The National Council of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), under a roadmap to strengthen the party and sustain it as an institution, has decided to establish a think tank and an academy to train politicians, the party has confirmed. The decision was made at a meeting held on Wednesday.
MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said the think tank will promote sound party policies.
“Our [party] constitution mentions a think tank within the standing committees. However, we are now choosing to form a think tank as a separate entity registered by the MDP,” Ismail said.
The think tank will conduct technical research to shape the party’s various policies and provide advice to the leadership on how to meet the needs of the people, based on data and information, he added.
The MDP will also hold several conferences across the country, with the first to be held on 12 September at Kulhudhuffushi City, the party said — the Kulhudhuffushi conference will host council members representing Haa Alifu (HA.), Haa Dhaalu (HDh.), and Shaviyani (Sh.) atolls.
The purpose of the conferences will be to gather councillors’ views on the MDP’s current challenges, discuss how the party will move forward, and initiate efforts to strengthen the decentralisation mechanism, Ismail noted.
The party will also look to incorporate a business under the Political Parties Act to raise funds which it will channel towards party political activities, the MDP said.
