Maldivian Democratic Party

Maldivian Democratic Party ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
President	Mohamed Nasheed
Chairperson	Hassan Latheef
Vice President	Mohamed Shifaz
Parliamentary Leader	Vacant
Founded	10 November 2003 (2003-11-10)
Headquarters	1st Floor, H.Sharaashaa, Malé, Maldives
Youth wing	MDP Youth Wing
Membership	29277 (updated in June 2018)
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Environmentalism Parliamentarism
Political position	Centre-right
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Majlis of the Maldives	65 / 87
Website
mdp.org.mv
Politics of the Maldives Political parties Elections Membership Updated 30 June 2018

The Maldivian Democratic Party (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ, Dhivehira yitunge dimokretik pati; MDP) is the first political party formed in the Republic of Maldives with a total membership of 29277 individuals. It is a party with its stated goal being the promotion of human rights and democracy in the Maldives. This party won the first ever multi-party elections in the Maldives with the support from all the other political parties in the 2008 elections against the former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Maldivian Democratic Party failed in the first round of the two rounds of the 2008 presidential elections and called for a coalition for change against the then-dictator Abdul Gayoom. All the Political Parties joined the alliance of national unity and won the election.

History

MDP rally on the streets of Malé during the presidential election campaigns of 2008

There had not been political parties in the Maldives since 1952. The MDP initially submitted its registration on 24 February 2001. In 2001, the party's first president was Qasim Ibrahim. Although the Maldivian Constitution allows political parties to operate, the MDP's application was rebuffed. After the people fighting for their rights on the street and the death of Evan Naseem, MDP declared its existence in exile from Sri Lanka on 10 November 2003. Initially, it was formed by a group of 42 people, which included members of parliament, a former cabinet minister and leading businessmen. Members on its first general council were elected on 13 February 2004. Although the MDP was not recognized by the Maldivian government, it began operating in Maldives on 30 April 2005.

In 2 June 2005, the members of the People's Majlis unanimously voted to legally recognize political parties. The MDP subsequently submitted its registration on 26 June 2005 becoming the first political party to be registered in the Second Republic of Maldives.

Throughout 2006, the opposition faced restrictions on freedom of assembly, and the government continued to arrest opposition activists. In March 2006, the government introduced a "Roadmap for Reform" and subsequently introduced several bills in parliament. In August 2007, voters decided via referendum that the Maldives' new constitution should provide for a presidential system of government (vice parliamentary). The special Majlis completed its work and the new constitution took effect in August 2008.

In accordance with the new constitution ratified by then-President Gayoom on 7 August 2008, the first round of presidential elections was held on 10 October 2008. As no candidate received 50% of the vote, a second round was held on 29 October between President Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed won with 54% of the vote.

At the first multi-party parliamentary elections in Maldives, on 9 May 2009, the MDP won 34% of the seats which is 26 out of the 77 seats in the parliament becoming the party to win the second most seats. However, in case of number of votes, MDP gained the most votes with 35.3% of the votes (50,562 votes) which is a 10.39% increase from the first round of 2008 Presidential Elections when MDP was allied with other parties. From the elections DRP gained 27.5% of the votes (39,399 votes) which is a 12.5% decrease from the first round of 2008 Presidential Elections.

Election Results

President

Year	Candidate		1st Round		2nd Round		Result
	President	Vice President	Votes	Vote %	Votes	Vote %
2008	Mohamed Nasheed	Mohammed Waheed Hassan	44,293	24.91	97,222	53.65	Won
2013	Mohamed Nasheed	Mustafa Lutfi	95,224	45.45	N/A		Annulled
			96,764	46.93	105,181	48.61	Lost
2018	Ibrahim Mohamed Solih	Faisal Naseem	134,616	58.34	N/A		Won

People's Majlis

Year	Party Leader	Votes	Vote %	Seats	Notes
2005	none	68,931	31.10	18 / 42	Ran as independents endorsed by MDP
2009	Mohamed Nasheed	51,184	30.81	26 / 77
2014	Mohamed Nasheed	75,670	40.78	26 / 85
2019	Mohamed Nasheed	96,354	45.83	65 / 87

References

International Women's Day march, in 2012

External links

• Official website of MDP
• Mohamed Nasheed's Presidential campaign site
• political information collected by US government about Maldives