Nasheed says joint work of 3 ex-presidents has slowed
Nasheed, Yameen and Solih Solih announced the formation of the United Democratic Front in May following the imprisonment of two journalists.
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Former President Mohamed Nasheed has acknowledged that the joint work undertaken by three former presidents to coordinate opposition efforts has slowed, but said the initiative remains active.
Nasheed made the remarks during a press conference at the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headquarters on Sunday.
Nasheed, former President Abdulla Yameen and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the formation of the United Democratic Front in May following the imprisonment of two journalists. The initiative was established with the stated aim of holding the government accountable.
Asked about the progress of the alliance, Nasheed said a committee formed after the meeting of the three leaders had met twice.
"A committee was formed following the meeting of the three presidents, and that committee has met twice. After those meetings, we haven't been able to move forward along that path very quickly," he said.
When asked by Dhauru whether the initiative had come to a halt, Nasheed replied: "I cannot say that the work has stopped."
Nasheed was also asked about recent criticism directed at him and the MDP by former President Yameen during rallies organised by the People's National Front (PNF).
He declined to respond directly, saying such remarks would not affect the cooperation between the former presidents.
"Our meetings will not be overshadowed by an opinion expressed by one president about another," Nasheed said.
"People will say different things at different times for political purposes. That is not something we worry about."
Responding to questions on whether differences between the three leaders had contributed to the slower pace of the initiative, Nasheed said political leaders would naturally have differing views but could still work together on issues of common concern.
He also noted that coalition politics can be difficult to sustain within a presidential system and said decisions relating to the MDP would continue to be made through the party's National Council.
Despite repeated questions about the status of the alliance, Nasheed maintained that the initiative remained active.
"The work has not stopped in the slightest. We are continuing to file cases with various institutions and are actively sending the necessary letters to local authorities as well as international organisations," he said.
