Aides say no issue for Nasheed to remain in MDP despite new party

The Democrats, a new political party spearheaded by MDP president Mohamed Nasheed, said on Sunday that it is not an issue to form another political party he leads despite him remaining a member of the ruling MDP. 

While the Fikuregge Dhirun faction of Nasheed applied to the Elections Commission (EC) on Sunday seeking permission to form a new party, Nasheed continues to be the president of MDP.  

When asked by Atoll Times how it was possible for Nasheed to form another party while he was in MDP, Henveiru West MP Hassan Latheef said the party was being formed in accordance with the law.

Hassan, who submitted the application to form The Democrats party, did not directly say that forming another political party during Nasheed's tenure as MDP president was not an issue. He, however, pointed out that they would not float another party without Nasheed's vision and advice.

"We will not even form this political party outside the sight and knowledge of the president," Hassan said.

"This is a party that we form for our beliefs. What President Nasheed doesn't know, what he doesn't see, won't happen in this."

Hassan said The Democrats was not Nasheed's sole idea. He said it was the mindset of those who had come out against the "destruction" of MDP's values and policies by a group of people.

When asked when Nasheed would leave MDP and join The Democrats, the party's response was the same as was at a press conference on Wednesday. Hassan said only Nasheed would know when he would join the party and how.

The Democrats will field a candidate for the September 9 presidential election, Hassan said. He, however, said talks with other parties would also be held. 

Hassan said they would soon submit the application for the registration of the party with the signatures of 3,000 members. He said that going by the support it already enjoys, it will become one of the largest parties in the country in the future.