MDP to enter real estate business

Maldivian Democratic Party's National Council has last night reached a decision to enter commercial activities in a bid to increase financial independence and strengthen party management.

The motion submitted by the party's leadership at last night's National Council meeting states that the funds provided by Elections Commission is not sufficient for the running of the party, and hence proposes entering commercial activities in accordance with existing laws.

MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said that in the 19 years since MDP was incepted, the party has not been able to gain financial independence.

"To be honest, a large amount of funding is needed to run the party as it should be," he said.

He noted that the Political Parties Act allows for parties to conduct business, and as such, a legal path can be sought to commence commercial activities.

He, however, said that although the Political Parties Act allows this, the laws around business are ambivalent on the point, and requires further research.

He called for MDP to enter real estate business, and urged to explore means of doing so at the earliest. Options on doing so would be presented at the next meeting of the National Council, he said.

A motion to establish an academy to build people to participate in politics was also passed at last night's meeting.

Fayyaz said that the aim is for the academy to be non-partisan, allowing people from other parties as well to seek training there, in order to build capable and knowledgeable future politicians.

He said that it is unclear whether the law allows this, and if the government does not allow the party to do so, a proxy of the party leadership may be formed to lead the efforts.

Additionally, a think tank to promote solid policies was also proposed.

The main aim at present is to further build up MDP, and not to prove the party's philosophy to any persons, Fayyaz said.