The MDP congress has passed the amendments to the basic regulation proposed by former Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, which establish the Chairperson as the highest authority of the MDP and bring major changes to the party's administration.
In the vote taken at the congress today following a debate on the amendments proposed by Fayyaz, 546 delegates voted in favor of passing the amendments. 19 delegates did not vote in favor of passing them.
While serving as Chairperson, Fayyaz traveled to various islands and, based on consultations with general members, submitted amendments to completely change the MDP's basic regulation. When the opportunity was opened to bring changes to the basic regulation currently implemented by the party, which was passed in 2022, Fayyaz was the only one who did so.
Following that, MDP opened an opportunity to submit amendments to Fayyaz's amendments. During that opportunity, MDP Parliamentary Group member Ibrahim Nazil submitted an amendment. That amendment was also passed at today's congress.
Key Aspects of the Basic Regulation Proposed by Fayyaz
According to the new regulation, it is prohibited for secretariat staff, including the Chairperson, to compete in internal elections and actively participate in campaigns.
The draft of the regulation states:
- If any secretariat staff member wishes to compete in an internal election, they must inform the Chairperson in writing at least one month prior to the holding of that election.
- If such a notice is given by an employee, they must be distanced from their responsibilities until that election concludes, and if elected to the position contested, they will be dismissed from their secretariat job.
- No secretariat staff member may support a candidate in an internal election, disclose it, or actively work in the campaign.
- If a person whose interests conflict with a secretariat employee's is running in an election, or if a situation arises that could raise questions about the fairness of the election, the committee organizing and conducting that election has the power to temporarily bar that employee from executing their job responsibilities.
According to the amendment to the MDP's new basic regulation, an important article present in the currently implemented regulation has been removed. That is the article which stipulated that when the party is in power, the head of the party is the President.
Instead, the new draft states that the highest authority of the party is the Chairperson. Furthermore, the person holding the position of Chairperson must not hold any other position that receives a state salary. This includes the position of the President.
The draft of the new regulation states that if an MDP candidate is elected to the presidency, they must sign an agreement stating that they will consult the party's National Council when forming the government and determining important policies.
The draft also specifies that to improve relations between the government and the party while the party is in power, the Chairperson must be made the Senior Advisor to the President.
While other changes concerning the party leadership were also included in the draft of the new regulation, the positions of President and Vice President have been abolished. Instead, the position of Deputy Chairperson (Political) has been added.
Currently, there are the Deputy Chairperson for Finance and Administrative. It is specified that one of these three positions must be held by a female member.
