Gayyoom is attempting to tamper with the system of political parties -- Zuhair

Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair has said that the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom is attempting to tamper with the system of political parties.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair said that Former President Gayyoom is trying to use his influence upon the party system when the party system is in its infancy in the Maldives.

“In the party system the political parties are run in accordance to the Political Party Act. Not according to individuals. As it is mandatory upon the people to follow the Constitution, it is mandatory upon the members of a political party to follow the Charter of that party. No member, whether it is the leader or the founder of the party, has the right to break the rules of the Charter,” Zuhair said.

Zuhair said that the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has charter that all of its members should comply.

“The title of “Founding Leader” is just an honorific title. It has not legal or active status,” he said.

Zuhair said that Gayyoom’s obstruction of the work of the DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali is against democracy and is despotic.

“The first thing is to check the list of those appointed for the different posts of the party. It should be checked if there is any post listed as ‘Founding Leader’,” Zuhair said.