List of political parties in the Maldives

Political parties in the Maldives were legalized when the Maldivian parliament voted unanimously for the creation of a multi-party system on 2 June 2005.[1] This came after decades of authoritarian rule. Prior to this ruling, political parties had not been not allowed under the Maldivian legal system.

Current parties

Parliamentary

Party Leader Founded Ideology MPs
PNC People's National Congress
ޕީޕަލްސް ނެޝެނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް
Mohamed Muizzu 2019 Islamic democracy
Social conservatism
75 / 93
MDP Maldivian Democratic Party
ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
Dhivehi ra yitungedimokretik paatee
Abdulla Shahid 2005 Liberal conservatism
Islamic democracy
12 / 93
MDA Maldives Development Alliance
މޯލްޑިވްސް ޑިވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އެލަޔަންސް
Ahmed Siyam Mohamed 2012 Economic liberalism
Political Islam
2 / 93
JP Republican Party
ޖުމްހޫރީ ޕާޓީ
Jumhooree paatee
Qasim Ibrahim 2008 Islamic democracy
Nationalism
Social conservatism
1 / 93
MNP Maldives National Party
މޯލްޑިވްސް ނޭޝަނަލް ޕާޓީ
Mohamed Nazim 2021 Islamic democracy
Nationalism
1 / 93

Extra-parliamentary

Party Leader Founded Ideology
AP Justice Party
ޢަދާލަތު ޕާޓީ
Adhaalath pati
Sheikh Imran Abdulla 2005 Religious conservatism
Islamism
Islamic democracy
PNF People's National Front
ޕީޕަލްސް ނެޝެނަލް ފްރޮންޓް
Abdulla Yameen 2023 Social conservatism
Right-wing populism
Islamism
DEM The Democrats
ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް
Imthiyaz Fahmy 2023 Liberal conservatism
Parliamentarism
MLSDP Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party
މޯލްޑިވްސް ލޭބަރ އެންޑް ސޯޝަލް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
Ahmed Shiham 2019 Social democracy

Dissolved parties

Political Party Bill

On 12 March 2013, president Mohamed Waheed Hassan ratified a new Political Party Bill replacing the guidelines established in 2005, when the Maldives first became a multi-party system.[2] The bill raised the minimum number of members required to register a political party from 3,000 to 10,000. With the ratification of the bill, all registered political parties with less than 10,000 members were dissolved. The following is a list of parties dissolved under the law:

Party Leader[a] Founded Dissolved Ideology
PA People's Alliance
ޕީޕަލްސް އެލަޔަންސް
Ahmed Nazim 2008 2013
DQP Dhivehi Qaumee Party
ދިވެހި ޤައުމީ ޕާޓީ
Hassan Saeed 2009 2013
GIP National Unity Party
ޤައުމީ އިއްތިޚާދު
Gaumee itthihaad
Mohamed Waheed Hassan 2008 2013 Social democracy
Environmentalism
IDP Islamic Democratic Party
އިސްލާމިކް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
Hassan Zareer 2005 2013 Islamism
Islamic democracy
MSDP Maldives Social Democratic Party
ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ސޯޝަލް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ
Reeko Ibrahim Manik 2006 2013
PP People's Party
ޕީޕަލްސް ޕާޓީ
Ahmed Riyaz 2007 2013
MNC Maldives National Congress
މޯލްޑިވިއަން ނެޝަނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް
Ali Amjad (Deputy) 2007 2013
SLP Social Liberal Party
ސޯޝަލް ލިބަރަލް ޕާޓީ
Mazlaan Rasheed 2007 2013 Social liberalism
MLP Maldivian Labour Party
މޯލްޑިވިއަން ލޭބަރ ޕާޓީ
Ahmed Moosa (Deputy) 2008 2013 Socialism
MRM Maldives Reform Movement
މޯލްޑިވްސް ރިފޯމް މޫވްމަންޓް
Mohamed Munnavaru 2011 2013
DRP Maldivian People's Party
ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޕާޓީ
Dhivehi rayyithunge paatee
Abdulla Jabir 2005 2023 Conservatism
Populism
Islamic democracy
MRM Maldives Reform Movement
މޯލްޑިވްސް ރިފޯމް މޫވްމެންޓް
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom 2019 2025 Political Islam
Nationalism
MTD Maldives Third Way Democrats
މޯލްޑިވްސް ތަރޑް ވޭ ޑިމޮކެރެޓްސް
Ahmed Adeeb 2018 2025 Third Way
PPM Progressive Party of Maldives
ޕްރޮގްރެސިވް ޕާޓީ އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް
Mohamed Muizzu 2011 2025 Religious nationalism
Right-wing populism

First republic

The First Republic of the Maldives had only one party, the Rayyithunge Muthagaddim Party.

Party Leader[a] Founded Dissolved Ideology
RMP Rayyithunge Muthagaddim Party
ރައްޔިތުންގެ މުތައްގަދިމް ޕާޓީ
Mohamed Amin Didi 1951 1954 Nationalism
Republicanism

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b At time of dissolution.

References

  1. ^ "Maldives (01/07)". United States Department of State. Retrieved August 24, 2024. In June of 2005, the members of the People's Majlis unanimously voted to legally recognize political parties.
  2. ^ Naif, Ahmed (March 12, 2013). "President Waheed's GIP among 11 political parties dissolved". Haveeru Daily. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013.