The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced plans to hold a gathering near the Parliament House on Thursday, coinciding with the first session of Parliament. The party’s official X account stated that the gathering is intended to listen to the presidential address, but the exact time of the event has not been disclosed.
The MDP has previously held rallies outside Parliament, including on occasions when key political decisions were made, such as the constitutional amendment that granted political parties the power to dismiss Members of Parliament (MPs) and the delay in the handover of housing flats and land plots. On these occasions, police intervened, preventing the opposition from gathering outside Parliament.
The MDP also held a protest march on Friday night, where demonstrators called for the resignation of President Mohamed Muizzu, accusing him of power consolidation, corruption, mismanagement, and failing to deliver on his campaign pledges. The march, which was peaceful and took place under police protection, attracted hundreds of people and marked the largest political demonstration against the Muizzu administration to date.
Meanwhile, internal unrest has continued within the government following the sudden dismissal of Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal, the son of Parliament Speaker and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla. There have been reports suggesting that Abdul Raheem may be ousted from his role as Speaker of Parliament. Neither the PNC nor the government has made an official statement regarding the ongoing internal problems.