DRP denies rumours of internal dispute over primaries

Reports of internal disputes in the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party over whether to hold primaries in the run up to the party’s congress are incorrect, the party has claimed.

Despite a court case the between DRP leader elect Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and coalition partner People’s Alliance (PA) leader Abdulla Yameen, and earnest debate over whether the party will hold primaries rather than automatically put its leader forward as a presidential candidate, the DRP insists the party is united.

DRP spokesman Ibrahim Shareef said ongoing rumours over splits in the party were untrue.

”People think the party is dividing because these are the days before our elections, so we are competing with each other – that’s why some people think we are having internal disputes,” Shareef said.

Shareef said in reality there were no internal disputes in the party.

However former president of the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) and DRP member Umar Naseer claimed that among the DRP MPs there are MDP supporters ”who wear blue T-shirts and pretend to be DRP supporters but actual fact are MDP supporters.”

Umar said it would be “very beneficial” for the party if the amendment of to hold a primary election was approved, as ”everyone must have the right to run for the presidential election.”

He said that he had not yet decided whether to do so himself.

Spokesman for the former president Ibrahim ‘Mundhu’ Sharef said rumours of internal strife within the DRP were being spread to encourage people to dislike the party.

Mundhu said ”the DRP is a democratic political party, and we solve all our problems peacefully.”

He claimed the DRP’s large membership base supported the party because of the love they have for former president Gayoom “and not for money or by force.”

In contrast, only 18 per cent of the population supported MDP “according to several polls we took.”

MDP spokesman Ahmed Haleem claimed that disputes were occurring within the opposition party naturally “as it changes into a democratic party. This happens in the early stage of any democracy,” he said.

“The DRP was largely based around former president Gayoom,” he said, “and their disputes over whether to elect a presidential candidate through a primary is due to the number of undemocratic people in the party.”

“Hopefully the DRP will become a democratic party very soon,” he added.

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3 thoughts on “DRP denies rumours of internal dispute over primaries”

  1. I would always support a strong opposition in the Maldives since it is very important for democracy.

    Unfortunately, I do not see how DRP or Dr Hassan Saeed's whatsitsname party or Dr Come&Go's build into one, even in the long run.

    These people bypass all ethics and are too power hungry.

    I dream of a strong new opposition party evolving. I hope they emerge by at least 2012.

    Otherwise, we are doomed.

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  2. Personally, I think DRP is an extremely strong opposition.

    GIP (Gaumee Itthihaad Party) has only 4,000 members, according to our numbers, and will not be a strong national party for quite a long time, but we do have a clear ideology that reaches past my father.

    Here's my reply to "Dr.Come&Go." The video-song is there at the end too. 🙂 - http://jswaheed.com/aboutme_filiwaheed.html

    Of course there will be internal party disputes. There are always going to be individuals whom the members thing will be particularly good to lead the party. And no, in democratic systems, people don't always agree. But once the leader is chosen through FAIR and UNCORRUPT methods, they support that leaders.

    And Mundu, Several polls?! Are you kidding me? How more vague can you get? What polling method did you use? Were your questions biased? What was the measurement error? 18 Percent?! - A number you clearly picked out of thin air. What independent verification is there for this? None. You are a very good spokesmen. Without a doubt the equal of what Shaheed was - some say you're much better. But don't BS. It's unprofessional.

    http://jswaheed.com/aboutme_disclaimer.html

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  3. Who are these idiots claiming that DRP is having internal disputes.

    Why should they have internal disputes, when everyone is been elected perfectly according to the Moyamoon Zaeem's, Dhimaakuraathee, sorry Democracy.

    Saabahey thiyo thee vaa party ye.

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