President requests MDP to consider a new formula for parliamentary elections

Leader of the government coalition meet at Hotel Jen for discussions on November 15, 2018. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Awshan Ilyas)

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has prodded Maldives Democratic Party (MDP)’s national council to consider a new formula to divide parliament seats and find a compromise the government coalition can agree on for the upcoming elections.

MDP’s national council has passed a resolution to compete for all 87 parliamentary seats.

Solih met with members of MDP’s national council at his official residence, Muliaage, last Monday night.

A council member who took part in the meeting reported to ‘Sun’ that Solih discussed producing a new formula to divide parliamentary seats among the coalition for the parliamentary elections.

“President Solih said he will maintain the coalition. And that it was therefore important to produce a new formula to divide the seats,” said the council member.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih meets with members of MDP's national council at Muliaage on December 10, 2018. (Photo/Twitter/Ali Nizar)

The original coalition agreement meant MDP could only compete for only 35 seats. The council member said Solih, too agreed, the number of seats was too low.

Solih suggested a number of formulas, including one where MDP will be able to compete for no lower than 50 seats.

“President Solih suggested producing a formula which will allow MDP to compete for now fewer than 50 seats. But it was just a suggestion. He took no definitive stand,” said the council member.

“Sun” has been informed the majority of the MDP national council favors competing for all 87 parliamentary seats.

Leader of MDP, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed speaks during its national council meeting on December 1, 2018. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Awshan Ilyas)

“For instance, there are some constituencies fully pro-MDP, with only about 6 or so members from other parties. But MDP will need to play music and campaign at our own center and elect a candidate from another party. MDP’s national council members do not support this,” said the council member.

Leader of MDP, former Maldivian President Nasheed has also stated the original coalition was “disproportionate” and “unfair” to MDP.

Negotiations between the leaders of the coalition for a new deal had fallen through. And Nasheed proposed the resolution to compete for all 87 parliamentary seats, a decision he said was in the best interest of MDP given the circumstances.