The Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), the third political party founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has been officially dissolved by the Elections Commission (EC) after failing to meet the membership requirements set under the Political Parties Act.
The law mandates that a political party must have at least 3,000 registered members to maintain its legal status. However, as of June last year, MRM’s membership had declined to just 1,867, a drop from 2,200 the previous year. With no substantial increase in numbers, the EC proceeded with its decision to remove the party from the official register.
This is not the first time the commission attempted to dissolve MRM. In 2023, the EC moved to revoke the party’s registration, but the Civil Court blocked the move, ruling that membership applications had not been properly processed. However, with the party still unable to meet the legal threshold within the designated timeframe, the commission enforced its decision, officially disbanding MRM.
The dissolution of MRM marks another setback in Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s political journey. Once the longest-serving leader of the Maldives, his efforts to sustain a political presence outside mainstream parties have faced repeated challenges. Of the three political parties he established, two have now been dissolved. The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), Maumoon’s first political venture, was officially disbanded on March 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which was also associated with the former president before his split from its leadership, is facing a similar fate. The party’s dissolution has been approved by the Senate, and the process is currently underway in coordination with the EC.
With MRM’s removal from the political landscape, the party’s future remains uncertain, along with the political aspirations of its leadership and remaining supporters.
