Democrats and MLSDP Dissolved After Failing to Meet Minimum Membership Requirement

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has dissolved The Democrats and the Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party (MLSDP) after both parties failed to meet the legally required minimum membership threshold, removing them from the official registry of political parties.

In a statement, the Commission said the decision was made under Article 30(a)(1) of Law No. 4/2013 (Political Parties Act), which requires political parties to maintain at least 3,000 registered members to continue operating. Both parties were found to have fallen short of this requirement within the stipulated notice period.

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The Democrats, formed by former President Mohamed Nasheed after his split from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), had recorded 2,952 members as of 1 January 2026. The MLSDP had 1,710 members during the same period.

https://t.co/wwvJxVBcyd— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) June 3, 2026

The Democrats were established following Nasheed’s departure from the MDP after he lost the party’s 2023 presidential primary to then-party leader and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Nasheed and most of his supporters later rejoined the MDP in 2025.

The formation of the Democrats was widely seen as a key political development ahead of the 2023 presidential election, which the MDP ultimately lost to the People’s National Congress (PNC).

With the latest decision, both parties have now been formally removed from the political party register, in line with statutory requirements governing party membership levels.