MDP says to boost democracy against govt interference

Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, on Wednesday expressed serious concerns about the government’s proposed legislative amendments, which he views as a threat to the country's democratic principles.

He emphasised that the constitutional democratic foundations, which were laid down through decades of effort, must be preserved and protected against any potential infringement by either current or future administrations.

The government has introduced a bill in parliament proposing fines exceeding MVR 100,000 for political parties, which has raised alarms among MDP leaders.

In a post on X, Fayyaz criticised this bill as a veiled attempt to undermine the MDP’s 20-year commitment to establishing democratic values and principles in the Maldives.

“These bills are part of a broader agenda that this government seems to be pursuing to obscure the fundamental values of people’s empowerment and government accountability,” Fayyaz, a former member of parliament and minister, stated.

According to him, these measures represent an infringement on the hard-earned principles of governance transparency and public empowerment.

For two decades, the MDP has worked to create a society that prioritises people’s power, fostering a political culture resistant to oppression and injustice. This recent spate of legislative proposals, Fayyaz argued, erodes that progress. He underscored that any attempt to deprive people of their rights or dismantle the established democratic structure when administrations change is unacceptable.

“We need to draw lessons from the past 16 years, revisiting the Constitution to ensure that its principles cannot be undermined. We need major, carefully considered amendments to strengthen and safeguard these foundations,” Fayyaz said, noting that the MDP will lead this effort.

The MDP’s concerns extend beyond the proposed Political Parties Act Amendment Bill. Fayyaz highlighted additional bills recently tabled, including: