The breakaway Z-faction of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is to form a new political party to be led by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, reports Haveeru.
An unnamed official from the ‘Zaeem faction’ told Haveeru that a majority of the Z-DRP council and opposition parliamentary group members supported the creation of a new party at a meeting last night that took place at Gayoom’s new office in Male’.
“All the members except two or three supported creating a new political party. All the members supported the idea of Maumoon heading the party,” the member said. “It has been decided that the Zaeem [Gayoom] would announce the decision within 2-3 days.”
MP Ahmed Mahlouf, spokesperson of the opposition parliamentary group that began functioning independently of the DRP last month, told Minivan News this week that discussions on forming a new party were at an advanced stage.
Factional strife within the DRP following the uncontested election of Ahmed Thasmeen Ali in March 2010 publicly erupted in a brawl between supporters of the embattled leader and dismissed Deputy Leader Umar Naseer in a televised rally on December 14, 2010.
Following months of allegations and counter-allegations in the media, in March this year, Gayoom fired off a 12-page letter condemning Thasmeen’s leadership of the main opposition party and accusing the DRP Leader of “acting dictatorially.”
