MDP: No plans to take action against Nasheed

Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) states they have no plan to take action against the party’s leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed who after refusing to back the party’s presidential candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and has begun working with Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader, presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim.

Following Nasheed’s loss to President Solih in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January, Nasheed has initiated a separate political movement within MDP’s; ‘Fikurruge Dhirun’. The movement is working alongside JP for the upcoming presidential elections.

This is a clear violation of MDP’s articles of association. The party’s Deputy Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey) however told Sun that the party does not plan to take any action against Nasheed at the moment despite his violations. He stressed that the present priority of the party is to win the elections.

Iburey, who was recently appointed as a minister at the President’s Office, said that other matters will be considered after the election slated for September 9^th.

“Our biggest goal is to undertake all work necessary to ensure the party’s candidate wins the presidential election. Anything else comes after that,” he said.

Nasheed’s ‘Fikurrege Dhirun’ faction has initiated efforts to draw up a coalition agreement with JP. Subsequently, members of the faction holding senior government posts have been dismissed.

Qasim, who is contesting the election on JP’s ticket, had also been the party’s presidential candidate in 2008 and 2013. He won 15 percent of votes in 2008, and 24 percent of votes in 2013 – not enough to qualify for a second round.

JP rejected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s invitation to back his re-election and decided to contest the election independently.