Muthaga’dhim was the first political party to exist in the history of Maldives which was established on September 23, 1951 under the leadership of Al-Ameer Mohamed Ameen Didi. This was active only during his government as it was the only existing political party at that time.
The establishment for a multi-party system has been heavily debated. On June 17, 2001, vote was made regarding the matter but it was opposed by 43 members of the parliament. Work continued in order to create the multi-party system. In December 2004, a research by the National Democratic Institute was completed under the United Nations Development Program (as requested by the government of Maldives) with recommendations in developing changes in the country’s legal framework that would recognize political parties and other groups active in that period.
On June 2, 2005 another vote was cast; this time in favor of the multi-party system, allowing the creation of parties as well as non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations. A decree was issued by the president on June 4, 2005 giving permission to political parties to register; the task of managing political parties being given to Minister of Home Affairs.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Dhiveri Raiyyithunge (DRP), Maldives Labor Party (MLP), Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) and Adhaalath Party were among the first to request for registration. The first to be formally registered was the Maldivian Democratic Party.
On February 7, 2014, some political parties had been dissolved by the Elections Commission under provision from the Political Parties Act.
The following are the remaining registered political parties as of the above mentioned date:
-Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]
-Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People’s Party) or DRP
-Gaumee Itthihaad Party (National Unity Party) or GIP [Mohamed WAHEED]
-Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed SIYAM]
-Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Mohamed MUNAWWAR]
-Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Reeko Moosa MANIKU]
-Meedhu Dhaaira
-Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP
-Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]
-Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]
Source
Maldives Political Parties and Leaders. (n.d.). Retrieved from Index Mundi: http://www.indexmundi.com/maldives/political_parties_and_leaders.html
Political Parties. (n.d.). Retrieved from Elections Commission, Republic of Maldives: http://www.elections.gov.mv/political-parties-8.html