Former President Mohamed Nasheed, a key figure in the founding of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), praised outgoing party chairperson Fayyaz Ismail on Sunday. In a post on X, Nasheed said Fayyaz “has contributed greatly to the party since its inception. He never wavered in his commitment to the party’s cause and faced imprisonment without hesitation when required. I wish @faya_i continued success within the party.”
Fayyaz resigned as MDP chairperson on Sunday, saying the move was aimed at preserving party unity and resolving governance challenges, raising questions about the direction of the country’s main opposition party.
In a letter to the party’s national council members, Fayyaz said that although several senior figures were seen as hopefuls for the party’s 2028 presidential ticket, he was the only one who had publicly announced his intention to compete, creating challenges for him to continue as chair.
He was elected MDP chairperson in May 2022 with 58% of the vote and led efforts to strengthen party structures and strategy. The resignation comes as the MDP steps up pressure on the government over economic and governance issues. Interim leadership arrangements are expected to be announced shortly.
A lawyer by profession, Fayyaz joined the MDP in 2011 and was elected to parliament in 2014. He served as Minister of Economic Development under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from 2018 to 2023, during which he introduced the country’s first statutory minimum wage, regularised tens of thousands of undocumented foreign workers, and pushed through laws on industrial relations and workplace safety.