Faisal leaves JP after 16 years

Former Maldivian vice president Faisal Naseem, one of the founding members of the Jumhoory Party (JP), has left the party.

Faisal, who had been with JP for 16 years, submitted a letter announcing his decision to leave the party on Sunday. He had reportedly discussed it with JP’s leader Qasim Ibrahim, before submitting the letter.

However, he has not announced plans to join any other political party.

Faisal began his political career in 2004, as the representative for the Fuvahmulah constituency in the Special Parliament. In 2005, he joined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

But in 2008, he left the MDP to join JP, after Qasim announced his presidential candidacy and formed his own party.

Faisal later took a break from politics, but re-entered politics in 2014, when he won the Kaashidhoo seat at the Parliament on a JP ticket.

In 2018, the then-opposition coalition decided to back one presidential candidate, and JP – which was the second largest party in the coalition – received the chance to choose a running mate.

Faisal won an internal poll, and became the running mate of MDP’s Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who would go on to win the election.

Faisal was the country’s ninth vice president, and the only one to complete a full term, since the enactment of the new constitution.

Though he has yet to join another party after leaving JP, he attended an MDP campaign rally for the recent Male’ City Council by-elections.