The Democrats, a political party established by supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed, voted on Tuesday to dissolve, with its members opting to rejoin the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

While the resolution to dissolve and reintegrate passed during a sitting of the party's National Assembly, some members reportedly expressed reservations.

The Democrats party was initially formed in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election, emerging from a period of political divergence between Nasheed and then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The decision to re-integrate with the MDP comes at a crucial time, with the country preparing for local council elections in 2026 and the presidential election in 2028. Nasheed has publicly indicated he is considering contesting the latter.

This re-alignment is expected to heighten the internal competition for the MDP's 2028 presidential nomination. MDP Chairperson Fayyaz has already announced his intention to contest the party's primary. Furthermore, sources suggest that both MDP President Abdulla Shahid and Solih are also actively campaigning for the ticket.