MDP loses super majority in parliament as 12 MPs are removed from party register

Maldivan Democratic party (MDP) has lost the super majority of the parliament as names of 12 MPs were removed from its party register.

MDP, the main party of the ruling coalition, previously had a total of 68 members in the parliament. This was the first time in recent history that any party had secured the majority required to potentially bring about constitutional changes.

However, the total number of MDP members in parliament has now dropped to 55 after 12 members left the party last Thursday. MDP had split into two factions, with one supporting the main party leader President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the other supporting President Mohamed Nasheed.

Ongoing conflicts between the two factions within the MDP have led to 12 MPs leaving the party.

Eva Abdulla, who presided over the parliament session yesterday, announced that the Elections Commission had officially notified the parliament about the removal of 12 MPs from MDP's party register. Eva further mentioned that the MPs themselves had informed the parliament about their resignation from the party.

With this change, these members were now categorised as as independent or non-party members, according to Eva.

"As this change will have an impact on the debate time allocated for non-party members, this information will be shared with the members of the parliament," said Eva, who is one of the 12 members that resigned from MDP last Thursday.

Representation of political parties in parliament

- Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP): 55

- Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM): 5

- Peoples National Congress (PNC): 3

- Maldives National Party (MNP): 3

- Jumhooree Party (JP): 2

- Maldives Development Alliance (MDA): 2

- Independent/Non-Party Members: 17

The members who departed from the MDP are currently in the process of forming a new political party named "The Democrats." Once the Elections Commission registers this party, "The Democrats" will replace the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) as the new minority party in parliament.

While MDP parliamentary group has decided to remove Eva from her post as Deputy Speaker of the parliament, the party has not decided to take any action against Nasheed, who lead the formation of the new party. A no-confidence resolution against Eva has been submitted to the parliament.