Nasheed: Change can only come through a united MDP
He argued that these goals could only be pursued through the MDP and not through work outside the party.
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Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said efforts to bring political change to the Maldives will only succeed if the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) regains the unity, commitment and participation that characterised the party during its earlier years.
Nasheed made the remarks on Monday night at a campaign rally in Kulhudhuffushi City as part of his campaign for the MDP chairperson election.
Addressing supporters, Nasheed said he decided to contest for the party's chairpersonship because he believes the Maldives faces major challenges, including addressing public debt and charting a long-term direction for the country.
He argued that these goals could only be pursued through the MDP and not through work outside the party.
Nasheed noted that if he believed those objectives could be achieved through his previous work with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), he would have continued in that role. Instead, he said, the priority now is to reorganise and strengthen the MDP.
“I cannot do this work without your participation. I do not have any courage or stamina that does not exist within this party. The courage I have is simply the courage that exists within you,” Nasheed told supporters.
The former president said the MDP's immediate political objective should be victory in the 2028 presidential election.
According to Nasheed, the party would need approximately 160,000 votes to secure that outcome.
He said achieving such a target would require extensive work across the country and cooperation among all sections of the party.
Nasheed also stressed that the MDP remains the political organisation best placed to compete in future elections, noting that the party was built through the efforts of its members over many years.
“As fate would have it, you all have built this single entity. There isn't much else. I am a product of your creation. The goal now is to turn this engine on and drive forward,” he said.
Nasheed added that his involvement in the campaign was driven by a sense of responsibility towards future generations.
“It would have been much easier for me to just relax at G. Kenereege. However, this is work that we must do for the sake of our children and our grandchildren,” he said.
Nasheed is contesting the MDP chairperson election against South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem. The election is scheduled to be held on June 12.
