Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, first elected president in 1978 and has retained power since. He has ruled in an authoritarian manner. He survived a coup attempt that was foiled with help of Indian troops in 1988.

Since 2003 the country has experienced occasional antigovernment demonstrations calling for political reforms. Political parties were allowed in June 2005. The first party to register was Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed by popular opposition figures like Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and Mohamed Latheef (Gogo). Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party or the DRP headed by president Gayyoom was to register next. Currently MDP attracts huge support from the islanders and is believed to win the upcoming elections by a landslide.