DRP decides to join MDP

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has decided to join Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

This decision was passed with the votes of 12 council members of DRP at a council meeting held today. Three council members voted to join Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Speaking to reporters after the council meeting, DRP Leader, Kendhoo MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali said that three options were discussed at today’s meeting, which were to support MDP, to support PPM, or to remain impartial.

“DRP has decided to support MDP’s candidate Mohamed Nasheed in the second round of the presidential election. This was decided by the majority of members present at today’s council meeting,” he said.

He urged members of DRP to support MDP and make efforts to obtain votes for Nasheed.

He said that considering the current political reality in the country, as a leading politician, it would not be responsible to hold on to something he had said in the past and not work towards ensuring peace and order in the country.

Reporters were not given the opportunity to ask questions at the press conference.

Thasmeen said earlier that under his leadership, DRP would never form a coalition with MDP.

Some council members of DRP told Sun Online that Thasmeen avoided answering a question posed by a council member who brought up this issue, and said that he will proceed according to the decision passed by the council.

Minister of Economic Development, DRP Council Member Ahmed Mohamed said that he will not accept the decision to join MDP, and will join PPM instead.

DRP has only decided to support MDP, and not formed a coalition with MDP.

Thasmeen, while speaking at a rally in the island of Kulhudhuffushi on 5 September, said that former president Nasheed misappropriated more than MVR 5 billion of public funds during his term as president, which consequently posed difficulties in providing drinking water and other basic services to the people.

Thasmeen said during that rally, that the people of the Maldives do not want Nasheed’s “autocratic, inhuman, corrupt” government to return.