The senior advisor of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has met with members elected to the 20th parliament on MDP ticket.
The meeting, held in Malé, was confirmed by a party official. The specifics of the discussions remain undisclosed, but the timing of the meeting is crucial for the MDP. The discussions are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the party’s future direction amidst a significant realignment of its strategy.
Solih, a former lawmaker who served in the parliament from 1994 until his election as president in 2018, had previously emphasised that the MDP’s representatives in the upcoming 20th parliament would be committed to upholding the parliament’s mandate and ensuring government accountability.
Meanwhile, the MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has expressed his appreciation to the lawmakers who served under the party’s banner in the outgoing parliament. In a post on X, he acknowledged their accomplishments over the past five years, despite the myriad of challenges and difficulties they faced.
Ismail highlighted the transformative impact of the changes spearheaded by the MDP, stating, “These reforms will yield substantial benefits to our nation and its citizens. In the forthcoming parliamentary term as well, the representatives of our party will remain steadfast in their commitment to uphold the nation’s best interests and safeguard the rights of the people.”
The MDP, which held a supermajority in the outgoing 19th parliament, suffered a major setback in the parliamentary elections held on 21 April. Despite allegations of bribery and political intimidation, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) outmanoeuvred the MDP to clinch a supermajority in the legislative assembly. Even though the MDP fielded candidates for 90 of the 93 seats in the parliament, the party managed to secure only 12 seats.
