The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will focus on the upcoming elections and postpone the vote for the leader and deputy leader of the party, MDP Deputy Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed has confirmed.
Speaking to local media, Waheed said the MDP is currently prioritising the mayoral election and the parliamentary primary, highlighting that the parliamentary primary would likely be held in January at the latest. In addition, existing vacancies also need to be filled in certain constituencies, according to the Deputy Chairman, and the party will look towards consolidating elections and holding them simultaneously, for internal positions within the party.
While the dates have not been set yet, the elections will be scheduled to avoid any conflicts with the upcoming elections and school holidays, Waheed said.
The MDP’s two top leadership positions became vacant after the party’s president Mohamed Nasheed and vice president Mohamed Shifaz left the party to form ‘The Democrats’ earlier this year.
Nasheed, a founding member of the MDP, led the party to victory in the Maldives’ first democratic elections in 2008. After his defeat in the MDP presidential primary in January this year, where he sought to displace Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the party’s presidential candidate, Nasheed left the party he had helped found 17 years ago to establish the breakaway ‘The Democrats’ party.