MDP congress approves constitutional overhaul with chairperson as highest party leader

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) congress has approved amendments to the party constitution that make the chairperson its highest-ranking leader at all times, including when the party is in government.

The amendments, proposed by former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, were approved on Saturday following debate at the party congress.

Of the delegates present, 546 voted in favour of the amendments and 19 voted against. There were 564 delegates present at the congress at the time.

The changes restructure the MDP’s leadership and set out new rules governing the relationship between the party and a future MDP administration.

One of the main changes prohibits the MDP chairperson from simultaneously holding any other salaried state position. This includes the office of President of the Maldives.

The revised constitution also removes the previous provision under which the President of the Maldives becomes the MDP’s highest-ranking leader when the party is in government. The chairperson will now remain the party’s highest-ranking official whether the MDP is in government or opposition.

The positions of party president and vice-president have also been abolished. Both posts were included in the previous leadership structure but were vacant ahead of the congress. The changes had been proposed as part of a restructuring intended to establish a single highest-ranking position within the party.

The number of deputy chairpersons will also increase from two to three. In addition to the existing deputy chairpersons responsible for finance and administration, the new structure introduces a deputy chairperson responsible for political affairs.

At least one of the three deputy chairpersons must be a woman.

The revised constitution also sets out obligations for the MDP’s presidential candidate and for a future President elected on the party’s ticket.

The presidential candidate will be required to sign an agreement with the party committing to seek advice and consultation from the MDP National Council when forming a government and when determining and implementing major policies.

If the MDP forms a government, the party chairperson must also be appointed as a senior adviser to the President, a provision intended to formalise the relationship between the party leadership and an MDP administration.

The congress separately approved an amendment proposed by MDP Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Nazil concerning eligibility to vote in internal party elections.

Under the amendment, only members who have been registered with the MDP for at least three months will be eligible to vote in the party’s internal elections.

The proposal received 508 votes in favour and nine against.

The constitutional overhaul follows work initiated after the MDP’s defeats in the 2023 presidential election and the 2024 parliamentary election. Fayyaz has said the reforms were developed after consultations with party members and were intended to address issues identified in the party’s organisation and leadership.

The changes were approved on the final day of the MDP congress, which began on 1 October. Constitutional amendments were among the main matters scheduled for debate and voting on Saturday.