Sunday 2 February 2014

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and it's Primaries!

I am not a member of MDP but i was a strong advocate for their ideals and beliefs back in 2004 to 2008. With the winning of the first multi party elections, we had so much hope for MDP and it's leaders. Our dreams of a democratic state were inadvertently linked to MDP. Let us leave what happened during their 3 years of rule for a later date.
Today, MDP once more is the opposition to the old dictatorial regime that has won the presidency via the peoples popular vote. PPM is the current face of the regime and it's broad coalition is made up for the rest of the political parties, all other than MDP, are united.
The parliamentary election in March 2014 will be a decisive moment; if the people want MDP back in power or it could also show the public to vote for qualities of candidates rather than their political alliance. MDP already threatened the current president that they would take a vote of no confidence against him if MDP wins majority seats in parliament.
MDP PRIMARIES!
When the DRP candidates joined MDP for the last presidential election, it was no real surprise. There were few parliamentary seats with DRP that were critical for MDP who are now with them. These seats belonging to Thasmeen Ali (ex-leader of DRP) and his wife's seat along with senior DRP leaders who joined MDP, like Rozaina, probably accepted to join MDP to secure their seats. There is nothing wrong here except politics itself. The issue arises when under suspicious circumstances, Thasmeen is allowed to win the primary without the inclusion of the votes of the largest island in his constituency based on the lack of "proper environment to vote". Surprisingly, all the DRP candidates who joined MDP now would have secured their seats in the MDP primaries. Thasmeen's rivals in the primaries are now calling foul play.
It is sad to see that many MDP members do not see the issue here. MDP no longer is owned or represented by few individuals but is a creature all by it's own independence. It has a responsibility to uphold the true values it promoted and inclined so many supporters towards it. Such issues of "undemocratic actions" should not taint it's image. If MDP wants democracy they cannot give it to the people in comfortable sips as they please; for that is exactly what ex-dictator Gayyoom said; "...Maldives is not ready for full democracy it has to be given in bits...".
MDP should allow for their incumbent Parliamentarians to be tested truly by their  constituents in the democratic manner that they have preached all these years. There should be no doubts, or room left for allegations of undemocratic behaviour. MDP is an ideal and it had given so many people so much hope for a better country and life. The members and it's leaders should not forget, they are to serve the people not themselves.

2 comments:

  1. It is sad to see that many people feel MDP is owned by few members.....I have started loosing hope in what they initially started as party to uphold integrity, fairness and justice etc...indeed very sad

    ReplyDelete
  2. this is not something new or only specific to Maldives...this is what happens everywhere...like they say...when good people do nothing...

    ReplyDelete