Talks still on with JP over alliance, Nasheed's The Democrats say
When asked about what was not agreed upon, Afshan said that there are people who support the parliamentary system both within JP and within PPM.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Despite the issues where a compromise has not been made, talks initiated by Fikuregge Dhirun faction of MDP president Mohamed Nasheed with the Jumhooree Party (JP) for the presidential election are still on, The Democrats, the faction's successor party, said on Monday.
Members of Nasheed's Fikuregge Dhirun faction on Sunday moved the Elections Commission to leave MDP and form a new political party called The Democrats. According to them, The Democrats will run for presidency in September.
While responding to questions from reporters at a press conference held at H. Maizandhoshuge on Monday, party spokesman Afshan Latheef said the formation of a new political party and the idea of contesting the presidential election will not affect the talks initiated with JP.
"(Jumhooree Party leader) Gasim Ibrahim has a very good relationship with us. He is already giving us advice and guidance on various issues. And he will always be interested in working closely with us," Afshan told reporters at the first press conference organised by The Democrats.
According to Afshan, Gasim has experience in politics since the formation of MDP and much earlier.
"Therefore, I don't think any discussion with Gasim Ibrahim or JP has broken down," Afshan said.
During the talks, Nasheed proposed to transform the country's governance system into a parliamentary system. Some sources reported that Gasim could not agree to the offer.
Replying to a question from Atoll Times, Afshan said that JP is a separate political party and there will be philosophies that the party believes in. Afshan also agreed that there were things that JP could not agree to in the proposals.
"Some things will align. We will come to agreement on certain things, and remain different to others. We will negotiate on what is not agreed upon," said Afshan, who was the Local Government Authority (LGA)’s CEO till Sunday last week.
"So the talks will continue."
When asked about what was not agreed upon, Afshan said that there are people who support the parliamentary system both within JP and within PPM.
"There are people at the top of the party who will actively lobby for the system. So, I believe we can work on it with them," Afshan said.
Nasheed's paper submitted to JP highlighted the changes needed to be made in eight key areas:
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Included the powers of the president and the creation of the post of prime minister
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The head of the state is the president; apart from cabinet posts, political posts will be created for offices and institutions required to run the government and appointed to these posts in consultation with the prime minister in consultation with the president
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The prime minister's primary responsibility is to do what is required to be done as the highest representative of the government in parliament
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The council of ministers has to be formed from among the members of parliament; but there is no bar on appointing the members appointed by the president not exceeding 40% of the council of ministers
