The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has proposed amendments to its constitution to establish the party chairperson as its highest leader, including when the party is in government, and require the chairperson to serve as a senior adviser to the President.

The proposed amendments, submitted to the party’s congress beginning tonight, would remove the existing arrangement, in place since 2022, under which the President is the party’s highest authority while the MDP is in government. Members are scheduled to debate the changes on Saturday morning, with a vote expected that evening.

Under the proposed changes, the chairperson would always be the party’s highest leader and would be barred from holding any salaried government position, including the presidency. The President would also be required to sign an agreement to seek the advice of the party’s National Council when forming a government and making policy decisions.

The amendments would abolish the posts of party president and vice-president and introduce a deputy chairperson position. The party would have three deputy chairpersons, including the existing financial and administrative deputies, with one position reserved for a woman.

The draft also proposes measures to strengthen the fairness of internal elections. The chairperson and other Secretariat employees would be prohibited from actively campaigning in internal elections or endorsing individual candidates.

Secretariat employees wishing to contest an election would be required to give at least one month’s notice. If elected, they would have to resign from their posts. The Elections Committee would also be given full authority to suspend employees from their duties in cases of conflict of interest.