Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that they have moved their congress to October due to their repeated requests to the government asking for a venue in Male' not being arranged.
MDP previously passed to hold their congress on 19th September.
While speaking about the congress during today's press conference, MDP's former Deputy Chairperson and Election Committee (EC) member Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey) said that MDP's congress has always had more than 1,000 people participate, and that they initially requested to hold their congress at the Social Center.
However, he said that as they could not secure the location, they requested somewhere they could put up tents but it was not granted either. He said that the government did not grant their request for the congress to be held at Central Park as well.
"We sent two letters requesting for the Social Center. We met with them as well. We also spoke to the minister in charge of the center but they did not agree to give us the Social Center. Then we requested the EC for the Henveiru Stadium as tents are usually set up for voting there. But that was declined as well," said Waheed.
"We then began working toward holding congress at Central Park. That request was also denied. The current government did not approve any space for our delegates to go to."
According to Waheed, MDP met with the President of the EC regarding the matter.
He said that while even the law states the importance of holding congress, it is concerning that they have not been given any space to do so.
He went on to say that the government has not granted this request because of their anger regarding an additional 15,000 people having signed with MDP, an opposition party.
MDP's National Council recently decided to hold their congress from 1st October to 3rd October. It will be held at Male' City Hall.
However, he said that the capacity of the hall is still unclear.
During today's press conference, MDP Deputy Chairperson Mohamed Shifaz said that what really stands out for this year's congress is the presence of an investment forum.
While highlighting the activity is being held and falls in line with MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed's opinion, Shifaz said that what Nasheed has been saying all the way until taking on the position of Chairperson is to double the income of the public, with the slogan for the congress being "Ravvehi Ufedhun".
One session of the congress is reserved to find investors for island projects. The session will see MDP hold discussions with councils, with information regarding 77 projects for the session being obtained, said Shifaz.
"What we are trying to do in the name of the forum is determine island projects, find investors for said projects and for this party to find ways to make the projects happen," stated Shifaz.
"Councils have shared 77 projects to MDP's secretariat. We hope to share more than 100 projects at the investment forum before congress starts."
Shifaz said that they will share information about the projects the councils want to start with businessmen and foreign investors at the forum itself.
