Political parties in the Maldives were legalized when the Maldivian parliament voted unanimously for the creation of a multi-party system on 2 June 2005. This came after decades of authoritarian rule. Prior to this ruling, political parties had not been not allowed under the Maldivian legal system.
| Party | Leader | Founded | MPs | Ideology | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC | People's National Congress ޕީޕަލްސް ނެޝެނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް | Mohamed Muizzu | 2019 | 66 | Conservatism Religious nationalism | ||
| MDP | Maldivian Democratic Party ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ Dhivehi ra yitungedimokretik paatee | Abdulla Shahid | 2005 | 12 | Liberal conservatism Islamic democracy | ||
| MDA | Maldives Development Alliance މޯލްޑިވްސް ޑިވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އެލަޔަންސް | Ahmed Shiyam | 2012 | 2 | Economic liberalism Political Islam | ||
| JP | Republican Party ޖުމްހޫރީ ޕާޓީ Jumhooree paatee | Qasim Ibrahim | 2008 | 1 | Islamic democracy Nationalism Social conservatism | ||
| MNP | Maldives National Party މޯލްޑިވްސް ނޭޝަނަލް ޕާޓީ | Mohamed Nazim | 2021 | 1 | Islamic democracy Nationalism | ||
| Party | Leader | Founded | Ideology | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | Justice Party ޢަދާލަތު ޕާޓީ Adhaalath pati | Sheikh Imran Abdulla | 2005 | Religious conservatism Islamism Islamic democracy | ||
| MRM | Maldives Reform Movement މޯލްޑިވްސް ރިފޯމް މޫވްމެންޓް | Maumoon Abdul Gayoom | 2019 | Political Islam Nationalism | ||
| MTWD | Maldives Third Way Democrats މޯލްޑިވްސް ތަރޑް ވޭ ޑިމޮކެރެޓްސް | Ahmed Adeeb | 2018 | Third Way | ||
| PNF | People's National Front ޕީޕަލްސް ނެޝެނަލް ފްރޮންޓް | Abdulla Yameen | 2023 | (unknown) | ||
| PPM | Progressive Party of Maldives ޕްރޮގްރެސިވް ޕާޓީ އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް | N/A | 2011 | Religious nationalism Right-wing populism | ||
| DEM | The Democrats ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް | Mohamed Nasheed | 2023 | Liberal conservatism Parliamentarism | ||
On March 12, 2013, President Waheed ratified a new 'Political Party Bill',[1] replacing the guidelines established in 2005, when a multi-party system was created in the country. The bill saw the raising of the minimum number of members required to register a political party from 3000 to 10,000. With the ratification of the bill, all political parties which did not have 10,000 members registered were dissolved.
The following is a list of parties dissolved under the new law:
| Party | Leader (at time of dissolution) | Founded | Ideology | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA | People's Alliance ޕީޕަލްސް އެލަޔަންސް | Ahmed Nazim | 2008 | |||
| DQP | Dhivehi Qaumee Party ދިވެހި ޤައުމީ ޕާޓީ | Hassan Saeed | 2009 | |||
| GIP | National Unity Party ޤައުމީ އިއްތިޚާދު Gaumee itthihaad | Mohamed Waheed Hassan | 2008 | Social democracy Environmentalism | ||
| IDP | Islamic Democratic Party އިސްލާމިކް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ | Hassan Zareer | 2005 | Islamism Islamic democracy | ||
| MSDP | Maldives Social Democratic Party ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ސޯޝަލް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ | Reeko Ibrahim Manik | 2006 | |||
| PP | People's Party ޕީޕަލްސް ޕާޓީ | Ahmed Riyaz | 2007 | |||
| MNC | Maldives National Congress މޯލްޑިވިއަން ނެޝަނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް | Ali Amjad (Deputy) | 2007 | |||
| SLP | Social Liberal Party ސޯޝަލް ލިބަރަލް ޕާޓީ | Mazlaan Rasheed | 2007 | Social liberalism | ||
| MLP | Poverty Alleviating Party މޯލްޑިވިއަން ލޭބަރ ޕާޓީ | Ahmed Moosa (Deputy) | 2008 | Socialism | ||
| MRM | Maldives Reform Movement މޯލްޑިވްސް ރިފޯމް މޫވްމަންޓް | Mohamed Munnavaru | 2011 | |||
| MLSDP | Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party މޯލްޑިވްސް ލޭބަރ އެންޑް ސޯޝަލް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ޕާޓީ | Ahmed Shiham | 2019 | Social democracy | ||
| DRP | Maldivian People's Party ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޕާޓީ Dhivehi rayyithunge paatee | Abdulla Jabir | 2005 | Conservatism Populism Islamic democracy | ||