Govt has no plans to sack MRM political appointees
Members who have left the main ruling MDP and joined speaker Mohamed Nasheed's breakaway The Democrats party are being terminated.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Although the Elections Commission (EC) has decided to dissolve the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), which is part of the ruling coalition, it has become clear to Atoll Times that the government has no plans to remove ministers and members of the party who hold political positions in the government.
The EC on Wednesday decided to dissolve the party on the ground that it did not meet the 3,000 members mandated by the law. With this, the commission has also asked the party not to indulge in any political activity.
The party refused to accept the decision and moved the Civil Court, which on Sunday issued a stay order on the dissolution of the party. Therefore, the EC has decided to approach the court seeking review of the order.
With the EC's decision, questions have been raised about whether party members in government posts can keep their posts.
When asked about it by Atoll Times on Monday, the government did not make any official comment. However, a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the alliance with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was formed in 2018 when MRM was not registered as a political party.
"The alliance was formed before the party [Maldives Reform Movement] was formed, at that time. That is why these members will continue in these posts," he said, pointing out that MRM was registered as a party in 2019.
When asked about this, spokesperson at the President's Office Miuvan Mohamed reiterated his previous statement that those who want to work with the government will have the opportunity to do so.
Jumhooree Party (JP) is part of the ruling coalition but has decided to field its leader Gasim Ibrahim as a candidate in the September 9 election. At that time, questions were raised about the positions held by JP members in the government. However, the president is yet to take a decision on terminating the alliance with JP.
Members who have left the main ruling MDP and joined speaker Mohamed Nasheed's breakaway The Democrats party are being removed from government posts.
