MDP prepares to hold extraordinary congress ahead of August 15

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s national council passed a motion on Saturday to hold an extraordinary congress ahead of August 15.

The motion passed with the unanimous consensus of the party’s national council on Saturday night. The council also appointed a committee to organize the congress.

The move to hold an extraordinary congress comes after MDP’s former leader, former president Mohamed Nasheed said earlier in April that he believes a partnership between MDP and the Democrats to be in the best interest of both parties, as well as the larger Maldives.

Alhugandah fenna gothugai mi vaguthu Raajje ashaai, MDP ah, adhi Democrats ahves enme rangalhu gothakee MDP aai Democrats gulhun.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 5, 2025

Both MDP’s chairperson Fayyaz Ismail and Democrats’ president Imthiyaz Fahmy have welcomed a potential partnership.

The move also comes amid intense competition within the MDP over the party’s 2028 presidential ticket.

MDP’s standing orders dictate that it must hold a congress every five years. But an extraordinary congress can be called with the consent of the party’s national council. The MDP last held an extraordinary congress in AA. Ukulhas in 2018 – during which the party decided against holding a primary and gave the presidential ticket to former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, after Nasheed was disqualified from contesting the election. Solih went on to win the election.

The party’s last regular congress was in 2022.

In 2023, major differences between Solih and Nasheed led to the latter and his allies leaving the MDP to form Democrats.

This fracture within the MDP is widely believed to be one of the leading causes of the party 2023 election loss.