MDP leadership re-election case to court

Former deputy of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Alhan Fahmy filed a lawsuit against MDP to elect a new leader and deputy at the lower court.

Alhan Fahmy, who was exiled from MDP for acting in violation of the party's interests, filed the lawsuit citing that the term of the current leader, former president Mohamed Nasheed and deputy leader Mohamed Shifaz, was up.

After Nasheed was jailed on terrorism charges last year, the government controlled parliament had amended the Political Parties Act to deny convicts from serving in party leadership positions.

MDP had rejected the politically motivated amendment, insisting that Nasheed was still its leader, even after the Elections Commission deemed the opposition party leader’s post vacant following the amendment.

In addition, Alhan said that Dr Ibrahim Didi was elected as the leader of MDP on May 2011 while Alhan himself was elected as the deputy leader. However, they were removed from power on April 30, 2012 despite the tenure being incomplete.

Alhan has teamed up with former MDP chairperson Moosa Manik to initiate a reform program accusing Nasheed of ‘hijacking’ the party.

Manik, who serves as the deputy parliament speaker, has joined forces with former top MDP officials to “bring the party back on track.”

Manik insisted that the reform program will pursue legal means, pointing out that Nasheed has gotten rid of anyone who opposed him.

Manik was dismissed from the party for breaking a party whip line during a parliamentary vote. However, the Elections Commission had later reversed the decision.

“MDP stands to suffer by joining MUO [Maldives United Opposition]. So we need to reform the party before the 2018 presidential elections,” he insisted.

The Civil Court has now accepted the lawsuit.

It is noteworthy that while a lawsuit has been filed to the Civil Court regarding internal matters of the main opposition, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s full control was also handed over from its leader to the party's adviser through a court order.