Fayyaz Attributes MDP’s Weak Oversight of Government to Internal Conflicts

Former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has said internal divisions within the party undermined its ability to hold the government accountable and contributed to the challenges facing the country.

Speaking at the party’s national council meeting last night, Fayyaz said he faced internal interference after announcing his intention to run in the 2028 presidential election, noting that no other party members had declared their candidacy. He said concerns that he might personally benefit from a future campaign had begun to overshadow the party’s progress.

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Fayyaz said the rift between former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was already evident when he joined the party’s leadership in 2022. He said doubts grew within the party during MDP’s presidential primary because the dispute remained unresolved. According to Fayyaz, he and Nasheed held discussions to address the issue, and one proposal included Nasheed stepping aside in the primary and holding a vote on shifting to a parliamentary system.

He said that, at Solih’s request, he facilitated discussions between the two leaders. Solih agreed to Nasheed’s call for a parliamentary system vote, but Fayyaz said he doubted the proposal’s success and ultimately rejected it. He argued that the MDP lost the 2023 presidential election partly because of Nasheed’s decision to contest in the primary. 

Fayyaz also said he believed many of the “difficulties facing Maldivians” stem from the MDP losing a significant number of seats in Parliament. He added that he had hoped to work with The Democrats, but the party leadership did not support the idea at the time. 

He said internal disputes weakened public confidence both in the party and in the wider political system. “The conflicts that arose within the MDP resulted in the public losing trust in us and in the political system as a whole. I believe it is crucial to regain that trust,” he said.

Fayyaz said a roadmap was developed to restore confidence and strengthen the party’s internal structures. In his resignation letter, he said that changing the party’s charter to include electing just one leader is crucial. “Three swords cannot be in one sheath,” he said. 

He further highlighted several reforms carried out under this plan, including the establishment of a think tank and preparations to launch a party academy, which he said is now on hold due to government interference

MDP failed to preserve and communicate its founding values to younger generations, he added, which he believes contributed to the party’s loss in both the parliamentary and presidential elections. 

He said his primary focus as chairperson had been to heal the internal split within the MDP. Fayyaz stressed that unity is essential for the party’s future success and said political leaders must set aside personal grievances and act in the public interest.