Some members of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Council have said that the decision by DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali to not back President Dr Mohamed Waheed in the re-run of the first round of the presidential election as ordered by the Supreme Court, was not discussed at the party council.

Thasmeen was President Waheed’s running mate in the first round of the presidential election.

Minister of Economic Affairs, DRP Council Member Ahmed Mohamed (Andey) said in an interview to Sun Online today that Thasmeen did not even try to set up a council meeting prior to making this decision.

He highlighted that the decisions for DRP to join President Waheed’s Gaumee Itthihad Party, for Thasmeen to act as President Waheed’s running mate, as well as the decision for DRP to back Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the second round of the presidential election, were all made by the council.

Andey said that following the Supreme Court ruling, the country is in the same situation as it was prior to the first round of the election, and in this situation, how the party shall proceed shall be decided by the council.

In an interview to some media groups this morning, Thasmeen said that he will not back President Waheed in the re-run of the first round of the presidential election.

Thasmeen also said in a tweet last night, “I believe it is in the national interest that President Nasheed wins this election.”

Thasmeen’s phone was switched off and it was thus not possible to get his comment at the time of press.

DRP Council Members, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Mohamed Saleem and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Ali Solih both agreed that the latest decision by DRP, which was to back MDP in the second round, is not valid anymore as a decision on how to proceed in the second round is not applicable at the moment.

In this situation, they said, a fresh decision must be made by the party council.

They said that until now, DRP has made all decisions democratically, and urged the party to continue to do the same in the future.

Another council member said on the condition of anonymity, that he was surprised and saddened by Thasmeen’s statements.

Andey said that almost 24 hours after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, President Waheed has not yet announced his decision.