Most Democrats against MDP alliance in runoff

The Democrats held an interim council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the second round of the presidential election, where most members spoke against forming an alliance with their former party, the ruling MDP. 

A total of 56 members of the interim council attended the meeting held at the House of Democrats.

Interim chairman of the party, Henveiru West MP Hassan Latheef chaired the meeting. In particular, they were against supporting President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Many members offered to support a candidate who agreed to take a referendum on the change of the system of government in Maldives.

Democrats’ presidential candidate, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb proposed that a committee be formed to decide what the party will do. The committee's responsibility is to consult with other parties and party members and submit a decision to the council, he said.

With Ilyas’ motion, Villufushi MP Hassan Afeef moved the names of six members to be included in the committee. Afeef proposed the following names:

In addition to them, Dhaalu Atoll Council President Moosa Shafeeg proposed two names.

The council has approved the formation of a committee with the eight members.

Democrats' interim council member Ibrahim Rasheed said all governments talk about systematic votes but that has not happened yet.

He said a systematic vote was essential for the future of The Democrats and that he never supported a presidential system. He said The Democrats' founder and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Nasheed would regain the territory "lost by Maldives" as prime minister.

"I, with President Nasheed as prime minister, will take it. I will take back Chagos again," he said.

He said that he did not want to go and beg either the MDP candidate President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih or the PNC-PPM candidate Dr. Mohammed Muizz for anything.

Male city council member Mohamed Saif Fathih said the decision should be made in the best interest of the party and the country.

"Anyway, we are not facing friends. We will have a huge responsibility to hold them accountable in Parliament," Saif said.

Saif also said he did not want to support President Solih. There is no doubt that the President will “buy” the MPs and he is still conducting the Parliament in that way, he alleged.

Referring to the MDP, Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed said the former party had now been ‘dissolved’ and an ‘alternative to Ibu’ had been found as well.

"We certainly cannot support Ibrahim Mohammed Solih. At the same time, the others [PPM-PNC] are also people we should think about," he said.

While most of the members who spoke at the meeting were against President Solih, one councilor said the MDP had collapsed as Nasheed had said and The Democrats would not look back.

Taking lead in the creation of The Democrats, deputy speaker Eva Abdulla said it was clear that The Democrats would not stand with the MDP.

The members in the party camp applauded the statement.

"The truth is we are not talking about personal things. We are talking about the future of our party. So we will do it in the best way for the party," she said.

"The MDP is not the way for this party and the people under any circumstances. Therefore, we have no proposal to Ibrahim Mohammed Solih and the MDP”.

According to Eva, the next options for Democrats are:

“It is not necessary to include us in the next government,” she said.

Eve said if "dismantling" the MDP is the strongest option for The Democrats, they could hold on until the second round on 30th of this month.

"There are many options. But it is very clear to all of us that it is not Ibu," she said.

Th Democrats' vice chairman and Noonu atoll council president Mohamed Basheer said the party would only talk to the MDP on anything if President Solih publicly apologised to Nasheed.

"We can't talk to the MDP without an apology. Ibrahim Mohammed Solih on public TV should apologize to President Nasheed," Basheer said.

Basheer named several senior MDP leaders separately and called on them to apologise to Nasheed. They are:

"When I say this, they will know why. People like [Hassan Ahmed] should apologize on public TV. Before that, there is no looking at them," Basheer said.

He said The Democrats want to achieve what they have always advocated for, regardless of which party they negotiate with. Basheer highlighted the following:

"We believe that the proposals already submitted to the MDP National Assembly will be discussed with the PNC and PPM. There will be no other discussions," he assured.