MP Hassantay leaves MDP for PNC

Inguraidhoo MP Hassan Ahmed (Hassantay) has left the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to join the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

He announced the decision to leave the main opposition party in a post on X on Sunday morning, sharing a picture of himself presenting the PNC membership form to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu – who heads the party.

“I have decided to move forward with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, starting today,” he wrote. “I will be loyal and sincere to PNC.”

Hassantay had entered politics as a MDP activist. He had once been one of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s closest aides. However, he had sided with then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the fight between him and Nasheed for control of MDP.

Hassantay was elected to the Parliament in 2019 after two previous failed bids.

He becomes the latest MDP MP to defect to PNC following its defeat in the presidential elections last year.

13 MPs from the MDP had joined the PNC on December 28.

In 2019, the then-ruling MDP had secured a supermajority in the Parliament with 65 seats. But the numbers dropped after 13 MPs defected to Democrats, and more to PNC. The MDP now has 42 MPs.

The main ruling PNC now has 16.