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The Democrats

ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް
The Democrats ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް
Abbreviation	DEMS
Leader	Mohamed Nasheed
President	Hussain Firushan (Interim)
Spokesperson	Mohamed Saif Fathih
Founded	May 21, 2023
Split from	Maldivian Democratic Party
Youth wing	The Young Democrats
Membership	4,328
Ideology	Liberal conservatism; Parliamentarism; Environmentalism
Political position	Centre-right
Colors	Baby Blue, Black, White
People's Majlis	0 / 93
Website
	thedemocrats.mv
	Politics of the Maldives; Political parties; Elections; Membership as of September 19, 2024

The Democrats (Dhivehi: ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް, romanized: dha dimokrets) are a political party in the Maldives, formed by a faction within the Maldivian Democratic Party^[4] amid a rift between members who supported Mohamed Nasheed. Some of their members were pending expulsion from the party after voting against the party-line and voting to oust sitting cabinet ministers of president Solih's cabinet.^[5]^[6]

The party nominated Ilyas Labeeb and Hussain Amr for its presidential ticket in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.^[7]^[8]

History

Founding

The party was founded in 2023 by 12 members who were originally members of a faction in Maldivian Democratic Party loyal to Mohamed Nasheed.^[9]

The members of the party favour a parliamentary system of government, which was what initially caused the rift between the group, originally within the Maldivian Democratic Party. The rift then became more apparent after the members of the group started openly criticizing the MDP government and several cabinet ministers.

The group was originally a sizable minority within the party, but were unable to secure the party's Chairperson post and were later unable to secure the MDP's ticket for the 2023 election after running Mohamed Nasheed against the president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the party primaries.

After party leadership threatened to oust key members of their group from the MDP, a group of members formed The Democrats. During the initial party formation, Mohamed Nasheed was still a part of the MDP, a party he played a key role in founding. Despite this, Nasheed was actively involved in The Democrats’ political activities and campaign.

He left the Maldivian Democratic Party soon after on July 17, 2023, noting that “it was not the right thing to do.” He also later established that he wishes to “tear down the party.”^[10]^[11]

Leadership resignation

In 2025, Hussain Amru, Mohamed Shifaz, Ali Azim and then-president of The Democrats Hassan Latheef, who were all founding members of the party, resigned from the party and re-joined MDP.^[12]^[13]

Election results

President elections

Election	Party candidate	Running mate	Votes	%	Votes	%	Result
Election	Party candidate	Running mate	First Round		Second Round		Result
2023	Ilyas Labeeb	Hussain Amru	15,539	7.07%	—		Lost N

People's Majlis elections

Year	Party Leader	Votes	Vote %	Position	Seats	+/–
2024	Mohamed Nasheed	4635	2.20	3rd	0 / 93	New

References

^ Mohamed, Mariyath (January 14, 2025). "Firushan elected as interim President of The Democrats". The Edition. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
^ Rehan, Mohamed (August 7, 2023). "Elections Commission accepts Ilyas Labeeb's candidacy". The Edition. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
^ "The Democrats". Elections Commission of Maldives. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
^ Ghafoor, Mimrah Abdul (June 12, 2023). "Will 'The Democrats' Reconfigure the Maldives' Political Landscape?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ "The Democrats submit forms to register party". Avas. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
^ Abdulla, Lamya (May 25, 2023). "The Democrats confident in forming new party and contesting elections". The Edition. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
^ "MP Ilyas Labeeb elected as presidential candidate for The Democrats with 3041 votes". The Edition. July 29, 2023. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^ "Hussain Amru appointed as running mate for Ilyas Labeeb". The Edition. August 6, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
^ Moorthy, N. Sathiya (June 2, 2023). "What Mohammed Nasheed's breakaway party means for democracy in Maldives". Firstpost. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
^ "Nasheed joins The Democrats". One Online. July 13, 2023. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^ Faaiq, Ali (July 14, 2023). "Nasheed promises to tear down MDP". The Times of Addu. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^ Mohamed, Mariyath (January 11, 2025). "Amru, Shifaz and Azim return to MDP". The Edition. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
^ "Hassan Latheef rejoins MDP". Avas. January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.