MDP

Opposition announces protest against Faafu deal as police crackdown intensifies

After warning that “legal action” will be taken against “demeaning” activities during upcoming official visits, the police have raided the MDP’s meeting hall twice, painted over graffiti on Shaviyani Bileyfahi, and warned against putting up banners against the Faafu deal at the MDP’s campaign launch rally on Haa Alif Dhidhoo.

MDP warns of ‘creeping colonialism’ by Saudi Arabia

MDP meeting hall raided over protests planned for Saudi king’s visit

Police officers have also been searching boats in Faafu atoll. A ferry called Endheri was searched in the early hours of Thursday morning and police officers have also been cutting open boxes of goods being brought in by local businesses.

No cause for concern over ‘US$10bn Faafu atoll project,’ insists Yameen

The Faafu project will be similar to “mixed development projects in French Riviera” with “international sea sports, mixed development, residential high-class development, many tourist resorts, many airports,” Yameen said.

Government tight-lipped amid growing clamour to reveal Saudi project for Faafu atoll

Speculation of the imminent sale of Faafu atoll to the Saudi royal family intensified this week when the media learned of the Saudi King’s upcoming official visit to the Maldives, prompting concerns over the scope for corruption, threats to sovereignty, and potential damage to the environment.

Campaigning underway for April’s local council elections

Both the PPM and MDP have been gearing up for the campaign in recent days. The stakes in the Maldives’ third local council election are higher than the previous polls as it will put claims of overwhelming public support to the test.

MDP activists, arrested over mock grave, released

The six men from Ukulhas were accused of “sorcery and unruly behaviour” after opposition supporters created a mock grave outside the home of an MDP activist who switched to the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives.

Opposition MPs boycott annual presidential address

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has decided to boycott President Abdulla Yameen’s annual state of the nation address at the official opening of the People’s Majlis for a second consecutive year.

Local council elections rescheduled for April

The elections commission has assured political parties that the postponed local council elections will be rescheduled for early April with a new date to be announced next week.

Minister blames MDP government for housing project controversy

With a majority of flat winners struggling to raise an MVR400,000 down payment to secure a home loan, the housing ministry has threatened to take legal action against those who fail to hand over their plots of land in Malé within three months.

Elections commission withdraws appeal against poll delay

The elections commission has withdrawn its appeal of a civil court judgment that postponed next year’s local council elections by two months, drawing fierce criticism from political parties over the independence of the electoral body.

Feydhoo Finolhu leased to Chinese company for US$4m

Feydhoo Finolhu, the nearest uninhabited island to Malé and the international airport, has been leased to a Chinese company for 50 years at an acquisition cost of about US$4 million.

MDP accuses electoral body of ‘curtailing election observation’

The commission gave three working days to register representatives for nearly 500 candidates and refused to accredit several observers, the MDP said.

Airport development fee to be introduced in 2017

A contentious Airport Development Charge of US$12 for Maldivians and US$25 for foreigners departing from the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport was voted through by the ruling party-dominated parliament Thursday night.

Elections commission to release funds owed to political parties

The commission has requested the finance ministry to distribute MVR23million (US$1.5million) among four of the six political parties

Funding for political parties withheld

Citing leadership vacuums and complaints over reckless spending and mismanagement, the elections commission has withheld public funding for all political parties

Government accused of undermining all-party talks with preconditions

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has accused the government of attempting to obstruct the upcoming all-party talks by demanding council-endorsed representatives and ruling out negotiating with jailed opposition leaders.

Majlis reconvenes with debate on food subsidy cut

The People’s Majlis reconvened after a one-month recess today with a heated debate about the doubling of prices for staple foods after the government’s abrupt decision to target subsidies for the needy.

Gayoom rebuffs government’s demand of council-endorsed representatives for talks

The government demanded that representatives for all-party talks must be endorsed by executive councils after Gayoom appointed his son to represent the PPM. A majority of the divided ruling party’s council is seen as loyal to President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing fued between the Gayoom brothers.

Government promises to reduce food prices amid protests

The government has promised to reduce the cost of food staples after a backlash from within the ruling party and protests by the opposition over an abrupt hike in food and electricity prices