Nasheed says he will leave politics only when someone else takes up the cause
Nasheed also said the MDP's political ideology could not be removed from the Maldives and rejected suggestions that the party had become inactive.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said he will only step away from politics when another person is ready to continue the work he believes remains unfinished.
Nasheed made the remarks during a meeting with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members in Gdh. Faresmaathodaa on Sunday as part of his campaign for the party's chairperson election.
Following divisions within the MDP during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, Nasheed left the party and formed The Democrats in 2023. He later announced his departure from politics and moved to Ghana to serve as Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
Nasheed rejoined the MDP last year and has since returned to active politics.
Addressing party members, Nasheed said he could not abandon work that had already begun and would only retire from politics when another person was able to continue it.
"I am a product of your making. They have not produced many others for this work. When someone else is found, I will step aside. However, I cannot abandon work that has already been set in motion," he said.
Nasheed also said the MDP's political ideology could not be removed from the Maldives and rejected suggestions that the party had become inactive.
He argued that the party must remain active and continue its political work, adding that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was concerned about the possibility of the MDP regaining momentum under new leadership.
"There is nothing he will not do. He will rise. He will succeed. God willing, we will defeat President Muizzu," Nasheed said.
Reflecting on his involvement in the country's political reform movement, Nasheed said many of the rights sought during the period when political parties were first permitted had yet to be fully realised.
He said those efforts should continue for the benefit of younger generations and warned against leaving the process unfinished.
Nasheed also called for support in the upcoming MDP chairperson election, urging members to back his candidacy. He said further political changes could only be pursued once the party was united behind a common direction.
Referring to the MDP's victory in Saturday's Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election, Nasheed said the result marked the party's third successive electoral win over the government.
He urged party members to build on that momentum and strengthen the MDP ahead of future political contests.
Nasheed also called on former MDP members in Faresmaathodaa to rejoin the party and encouraged older members to share their experiences of past political activism with younger generations.
