News Desk
MALE’, Maldives, — A public feud within the Maldives’ ruling coalition has laid bare tensions in the People’s National Congress (PNC), raising questions about its unity under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as the party navigates a challenging economic landscape. The dispute erupted when Mohammed Abbas, a lawmaker from the Velidhoo constituency and a member of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), claimed on the social media platform X that 13 or 14 PNC lawmakers were poised to defect, citing frustration with the government’s directionless policies and lack of consultation on legislative matters.
Abbas accused President Muizzu of neglecting constituents and prioritizing ceremonial project launches over substantive development. “Members are exasperated by the government’s inconsistent policies,” Abbas wrote, singling out Fuvahmulah South MP Ibrahim Hussain as a vocal critic within the PNC’s parliamentary group.
He warned that defectors would prioritize national interests, even at the cost of their seats. MP Ibrahim Falaah, the PNC’s parliamentary group leader, swiftly rejected the claims as “baseless propaganda,” accusing Abbas of sowing discord.
In a statement on X, Falaah referred to rumours that former President Abdulla Yameen had paid Abbas 3 million Maldivian rufiyaa ($194,000) to spread claims of the PNC’s dissolution.
He further questioned Abbas’s mental fitness for office, citing constitutional requirements for lawmakers’ mental clarity, and described the lawmaker’s actions as a “misguided attempt at political cunning.”
“The PNC stands unwaveringly behind President Muizzu,” Falaah said, dismissing any threat to the party’s supermajority in the 93-seat People’s Majlis, where the PNC holds 75 seats following its landslide victory in April 2024. The clash underscores broader tensions within the ruling coalition.
Abbas, whose MDA party holds two parliamentary seats, warned in February that the MDA might withdraw from the coalition, citing unfulfilled promises from a 2023 preelection agreement with President Muizzu. The MDA had initially backed President Muizzu’s rival, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in the first round of the presidential election before switching support to President Muizzu in the runoff, helping secure his victory.
Coalition politics in the Maldives are notoriously fragile, often fraying as parties jockey for influence and kickbacks.
Analysts suggest Abbas’s threats may be a strategic bid for concessions, a common tactic in Maldivian politics. “Such posturing is typical, but it rarely leads to significant defections,” said a political commentator. “The PNC’s supermajority gives President Muizzu leverage, but internal dissent could complicate his legislative agenda.”
Tensions between Abbas and President Muizzu predate the current dispute. During a July 2025 visit to Abbas’s Velidhoo constituency, President Muizzu accused the lawmaker of obstructing development projects, contrasting his cooperation with opposition Maldivian Democratic Party members.
“Political differences should not impede service to the people,” President Muizzu said at a rally in Velidhoo, emphasizing his commitment to overcoming such obstacles.
The public spat comes at a critical juncture for President Muizzu’s government, which faces economic challenges requiring cohesive legislative support. Any significant defections could disrupt the PNC’s ability to advance its economic agenda, though the party’s commanding majority makes a collapse unlikely. For now, the dispute highlights the delicate balance of loyalty and ambition within the Maldives’ intricate political manoeuvring.
