Nasheed says 2023 golden opportunity for Gasim to win presidency

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president Mohamed Nasheed said on Thursday that this year's presidential election is a golden opportunity for Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim to win power.

Nasheed, who is also the speaker of the Parliament, made the remarks while speaking on a WhatsApp group consisting of 'then and now' members of MDP’s national parliament.

"You are cheating President Ibu [Ibrahim Mohamed Solih]. Even if you say praise to him, the way people see it is very different. And this is Gasim's golden opportunity," Nasheed said in response to MDP members supporting President Solih.

"There's no one way Gasim will stand behind Ibu."

Responding to Nasheed's message, Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef, who belongs to President Solih's faction, pointed out how the coalition with Gasim fared during Nasheed's rule in 2008.

"Gasim said he remembers what happened in 2008. [Because of this, Gasim's] mouth still has a bitter taste," said Shareef, one of the few MDP lawmakers who openly respond to Nasheed.

"Shareef knows very little. There will be no Gasim [behind President Solih]. 100% sure," Nasheed said in response.

During MDP’s first term, Nasheed came to power as part of a coalition led by the Jumhooree Party with the help of Gasim. However, the coalition fell apart not too long after due to differences between Nasheed and Gasim, who served as the first home minister in Nasheed’s government. Gasim  started working against the government at that time.

President Solih had earlier stated that he could win a second term with the current ruling coalition, including Gasim's Jumhooree Party. However, neither Gasim nor the Jumhooree Party have yet to take a decision on the September presidential elections.