Nasheed apologises to MDP members for leaving party in 2023
He added that leaving the MDP had been personally difficult, describing the party as “my entire life”.
Top Stories
-
Govt extends deadline for social housing applications
-
Italian authorities seize divers’ belongings in Maldives probe
-
Major blackout disrupts power supply in Malé and Hulhumalé
-
President says cabinet restructuring has improved govt efficiency
-
WDC presidents’ salaries reduced again after public backlash
Former President Mohamed Nasheed on Friday apologised to members of the Maldivian Democratic Party for leaving the party and campaigning against it during the 2023 presidential election.
Nasheed made the remarks during a campaign meeting held in Dhuvaafaru ahead of the party’s upcoming chairperson election.
The apology followed comments from a party member who requested that Nasheed seek forgiveness from MDP members for his actions during the 2023 election period.
“In 2023, Nasheed made a small mistake. That is not an issue, as politics involves coming and going. However, we, the members, request an apology,” the member said during the meeting.
Responding to the request, Nasheed said he was obliged to answer the question and proceeded to explain the circumstances that led to his departure from the party.
According to Nasheed:
-
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stopped communicating with him after the MDP secured 65 parliamentary seats in the 2019 parliamentary election
-
Concerns remained regarding the investigation into the May 6, 2021 assassination attempt against him
-
Former MP Ali Azim was removed from the party following the presidential primary
-
There were also attempts to remove MPs Hassan Latheef, Ilyas Labeeb and Eva Abdulla
“When I was referred to the disciplinary committee for removal, if I had any sense of self-respect, I had to leave at that point,” Nasheed said.
He added that leaving the MDP had been personally difficult, describing the party as “my entire life”.
While apologising to party members, Nasheed also said MDP members should in turn seek forgiveness from him.
Referring to the 2023 presidential election, Nasheed argued that the MDP’s defeat was not solely due to his departure from the party.
Instead, he claimed that former President Solih lacked sufficient public support to secure victory, while also acknowledging the efforts made by party members during the election campaign.
“I do not believe the MDP lost the presidency solely because I left,” Nasheed said.
After leaving the MDP, Nasheed formed The Democrats and later spent two years in Ghana working with the Climate Vulnerable Forum.
He rejoined the MDP in June last year.
Nasheed is currently contesting for the MDP chairperson position with the backing of former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail.
Meanwhile, the faction aligned with Solih and MDP President Abdulla Shahid is supporting Meekail Ahmed Naseem, the Member of Parliament for South Galolhu.
Shahid has publicly stated that, in his capacity as party president, he remains neutral in the chairperson election and does not officially endorse any candidate.
