MDP Sets September 19 Date for Party Congress

The Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Council has approved September 19 as the date for the party’s congress.

The decision was made at the 36th meeting of the fourth-term National Council held last night, following a proposal submitted by MDP Chairperson and former President Mohamed Nasheed.

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Of the 63 National Council members, 52 voted in favour of holding the congress on September 19 following discussions on the proposal.

Following the vote, Nasheed said the party would begin preparations to hold the congress on the approved date and announce the procedures to be followed.

He also said elections for the party’s National Council would be held after the congress and before the current council’s term expires.

Under the MDP constitution, the party’s congress is held once every five years. The constitution also allows an extraordinary congress to be convened under specific circumstances with approval from the National Council.

Nasheed was elected MDP chairperson on June 12. He has previously said the party plans to make changes to its constitution during the upcoming congress.

The changes are expected to include decisions on the process for selecting the MDP’s candidate for the next presidential election, including the party’s primary.

The decision to hold the MDP congress in September comes as the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) also prepares to hold its national council from September 15 to 18.