Shamhheed announces bid for MDP presidential primary
His announcement makes him the third politician to formally declare a bid for the MDP presidential primary.
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Hulhumalé South MP Dr Mohamed Shamhheed announced on Tuesday that he will contest the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) presidential primary to select its candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
Shamhheed, who had previously been named among potential contenders for the MDP presidential ticket, confirmed his decision in an interview with online news outlet Avas.
The interview was the first episode of a new series titled With Shamhheed, presented by Moosa Waseem.
Asked at the beginning of the interview whether he would contest the MDP presidential primary, Shamhheed said: “God willing, I will contest the upcoming MDP presidential primary.”
Shamhheed said he had made a commitment to constituents during his campaign for the 2024 parliamentary election that he would contest the party’s presidential primary.
“Perhaps the only promise I made to the people of my constituency was that I would contest the presidential primary,” he said.
Explaining his decision, Shamhheed said many of the figures expected to contest the next presidential election from different political parties had held various positions within the political system over the past 18 years.
He said many of them had also played roles in previous administrations.
“Therefore, the people need new individuals to come forward and show them that there is another way,” Shamhheed said.
Shamhheed began his political career with the Jumhooree Party and served as Transport Minister in former President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s administration, which took office in 2012.
His announcement makes him the third politician to formally declare a bid for the MDP presidential primary.
Former Economic Minister and former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has announced that he will contest the primary. Former Foreign Minister and former MDP President Abdulla Shahid has also declared his candidacy.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to contest the primary, although he has yet to make a formal announcement.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who has also been considered a possible contender for the MDP presidential ticket, has said he will not contest the primary. Nasheed has instead backed Fayyaz in the race for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination.
