Maldives has seen growing calls for two major political groups the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats to join hands. Former President Mohamed Nasheed has been a strong voice behind this idea. On Saturday, he took to the social media platform X to share his thoughts, saying that an alliance between MDP and The Democrats is the best way forward for Maldives right now.
Alhugandah fenna gothugai mi vaguthu Raajje ashaai, MDP ah, adhi Democrats ahves enme rangalhu gothakee MDP aai Democrats gulhun.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 5, 2025
Nasheed believes that uniting these two parties would help the country and strengthen their efforts to keep the government in check. Many people in the Maldives agree. They want MDP and The Democrats to work together to ensure the government is held accountable for its actions.
Both MDP and The Democrats care about similar things. They want to protect the country’s constitution, keep the powers of the government separate, and make sure independent institutions stay free from interference. Even though they don’t officially work as a team, their goals align closely. This has led to growing support for them to form an alliance.
MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has also backed this idea. He said, “We have to put this government on the right track, even if that means working together.” Fayyaz stressed that MDP has always been open to partnering with groups that value freedom and democracy—values that The Democrats also stand for.
The Democrats was started by some former senior members of MDP, including those close to Nasheed. However, the two parties split after disagreements within MDP. One big issue was when former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih decided to run for a second term, which Nasheed opposed. Nasheed then left MDP after failing to win the party’s presidential ticket. This led to the creation of The Democrats. Despite this rocky past, Solih has also called for the two groups to come together again.
While the idea of unity sounds promising, it’s not without problems. Fayyaz admitted that some MDP members are still upset with Nasheed for his actions over the past two years. “We have dissatisfaction with President Nasheed,” he said. “It’s up to him to win back the trust of our members.” Even so, Fayyaz added that MDP’s doors are open to anyone, including Nasheed, if he chooses to return.
On the other side, The Democrats’ President Imthiyaz Fahmy welcomed Nasheed’s suggestion of working together. This shows that both parties might be willing to set aside past differences for the good of the country.
Fayyaz also shared that MDP’s National Council has agreed to team up with other parties and groups that oppose the current government. He said this has always been MDP’s approach—to work with others who want to protect democracy in the Maldives.
The push for an MDP-Democrats alliance comes at a time when many in the Maldives feel the government needs stronger oversight. People are watching closely to see if these two parties can overcome their history and unite. If they do, it could change the political landscape of the Maldives and create a stronger opposition to the ruling government.
