Fayyaz: Will win the election in one round; no major changes to number of members

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, on Thursday, underscoring the party’s membership will not be majorly impacted despite the resignation of several senior members, has remarked there is absolute guarantee that the party will win the election in the first round.

All lawmakers belonging to Fikuregge Dhirun faction, apart from MDP’s leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, resigned from MDP on Wednesday.

Subsequently, MDP held a press conference on Thursday during which Chairperson Fayyaz noted that a number of general members will be behind each of the senior members that had tendered their resignation.

Therewith, he said some of these general members are also expected to tender their resignation from the party alongside them.

He stressed the party has been refraining from taking action against members who are blatantly against the party’s policy for the sake of peace.

“It is not us who resigned, they did. If they had not resigned, we would not have taken action against them such as expulsion from the party unless the circumstances require to,” he said.

Fayyaz said not a large number of members have resigned from the party.

“Nevertheless, I believe a good number is expected to resign,” he added.

He went on to say that more members will join to compensate those who resign under efforts presently underway to increase membership.

“By the will of God, we are securing more members through efforts presently underway. Hence, it is unlikely there would be a major change to membership. We have been seeking a larger number of members than the amount that has resigned,” he said.

Speaking further, Fayyaz, emphasizing there was only a slim chance of winning the presidential election in the first round, said MDP has good chances. He expressed confidence in this trajectory.

He added that support would further increase if the members who resigned from the party were to rejoin.