Samatha Mallempati
On 26th July 2021, a resolution was passed in the internal congress of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) calling for a declaration of a state of emergency to combat extremism. The resolution was endorsed by the supporters of the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammed Nasheed who belongs to MDP. What is noted was the absence of support to the resolution by MDP members supporting the President of Maldives, Mohammed Solih, who also belongs to the same party. Thirty nine members voted in favour of the resolution out of forty one members present at the congress. In total, the MDP Congress has 148 members, a large number of MDP members were not present at the voting.[i] The visible differences within the MDP at a time when the country is facing the unprecedented task of tackling the impact of the pandemic and rising extremism may not augur well for the democratic consolidation.
