MDP Proposes Merger of Chairperson and President Roles

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leadership has proposed a structural reform to merge its two senior-most positions — Chairperson and President — into a single role to streamline party operations and leadership.

This proposal is among several changes the party plans to present at its extraordinary congress scheduled for August. The party’s Chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, outlined the reform during a briefing on the MDP’s reform roadmap.

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The merger aims to establish a unified leadership model, with one full-time official responsible for managing the party’s day-to-day affairs. This position would be salaried and serve as a crucial link between the party and government when the MDP is in power.

Under the proposal, the holder of the merged post would be ineligible to contest the MDP’s presidential primary during their tenure. They would also be barred from holding government roles, including cabinet posts, positions in state-owned enterprises, or membership in parliament.

The reform intends to ensure that the party has a dedicated official focused solely on party matters, particularly when the MDP governs. This follows observations that in previous MDP administrations, senior party figures holding government roles affected internal coordination.

Although the roadmap has not yet been formally released, it has been shared with grassroots members during visits to various islands.