Nasheed says MDP can win 2028 presidential election without coalition
Nasheed said he was confident the MDP could secure victory on its own and that the benefits of such a victory should remain with party members.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) can win the 2028 presidential election without relying on a coalition with other political parties.
Nasheed made the remarks during campaign events in GDh. Madaveli and Hoadedhoo on Monday as part of his bid for the MDP chairpersonship.
His comments come days after former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih argued that presidential elections in the Maldives can only be won through coalitions involving parties with similar political goals.
Addressing supporters, Nasheed said he was confident the MDP could secure victory on its own and that the benefits of such a victory should remain with party members.
"I am certain that we can win in 2028. When we win, it is important that we do so together with MDP members," Nasheed said.
He argued that electoral success should not depend on agreements that require the allocation of senior government positions and administrative responsibilities to coalition partners.
"Those who work for the victory should be able to share in its success," he said. "In my view, the MDP can win the election in a single round."
The issue of coalition politics has long been a point of debate within the MDP. During former President Solih's administration, Nasheed and members of his faction criticised the allocation of cabinet positions to coalition partners.
Nasheed said his confidence in an independent MDP victory was based on what he described as a series of electoral setbacks faced by the current administration.
He referred to the outcome of the referendum on switching from a presidential system to a parliamentary system, as well as the recent Hithadhoo North parliamentary by-election, which was won by MDP candidate Abdulla Sodiq.
Nasheed argued that the government had continued to lose public support since the referendum.
"No one asked for a referendum. The government chose to hold it and lost," he said.
He also cited the Hithadhoo North by-election as further evidence of declining support for the administration.
The by-election was held following the loss of the parliamentary seat previously held by PNC member Mohamed Sinan. According to provisional results released by the Elections Commission, Sodiq secured 1,375 votes, while ruling People's National Congress (PNC) candidate Ahmed Saeed received 1,313 votes, giving the MDP candidate a margin of 62 votes.
Nasheed predicted that the government's electoral difficulties would continue through to the next presidential election and reiterated his belief that the MDP could return to power without entering into coalition arrangements with other parties.
