The main-ruling Maldivian Democratic party (MDP) has responded to concerns raised by the party's President and Presidential Primary candidate Mohamed Nasheed regarding the party's register.
Earlier on Monday, Nasheed sent a letter to MDP's Chairperson, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, stating that over 40,000 members who were on the party's register were removed without notice. While the party's presidential primary has been scheduled for January 28, 2023, Nasheed said he doubts that a free and fair election can be held while the rights and participation of more than 40,000 members who joined the party voluntarily were lost.
A statement issued by MDP in response to Nasheed's concerns said the party's most valuable asset is its members. Any person who supports the party's principles and plans and carries out peaceful political activities within the democratic system is welcome to become a member of the party, the statement read.
The statement further said the party gives attention to running the party and managing the membership according to its constitution and legal system while following the rules and regulations of the Political Parties Act. The MDP has always conducted internal elections with the participation of general members, and only members belonging to the party should have the right to vote in its internal elections, it said.
"However, the register maintained by the party was such that members of other political parties were able to contest MDP's internal elections and vote in it and disrupt the elections. This was an obstacle to promoting the party's policies. The decision to validate the party register in accordance with the MDP Constitution and the decisions of the National Assembly is a decision made by MDP's National Assembly," the statement said.
Article 19(h) of the MDP Constitution states that a party member's membership shall be invalidated if he joins a political party other than the MDP and is active in another political party. Article 9(c) of the Political Parties Act states that "no person shall be a member of more than one political party at the same time."
The statement said the resolution passed in the MDP's National Assembly held on May 29 was to consider the 54,599 members on the Election Commission as the official register of the MDP as party members. The resolution also calls for the remaining 39,911 to be given three months to validate their MDP membership, and removing those registered with another party with the Election Commission. If any of these members are elected to any positions within MDP, they will be granted one month to validate their membership.
"In accordance with this decision, the opportunity is open for the members to register with the party," the statement said.
The statement said that both candidates who contested the party's recent Chairperson election agreed during their campaign that the party register must be verified. While the register is now validated, only the party's members can vote in the election, it said.
"We regret that the party's President, President Mohamed Nasheed, has raised questions about the register while it is being validated and maintained in accordance with the MDP Constitution and the decision of the National Assembly," the statement said in conclusion.
