Pres in first public criticism of Nasheed says can't form faction

MDP President Mohamed Nasheed cannot form a separate faction within the party and the aim should now be to ensure MDP wins the presidential election, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Tuesday.

After Nasheed's defeat to President Solih in MDP primaries, the factional feud within the party has deepened and Nasheed has been organising separate events in the name of 'Fikuregge Dhirun'. Nasheed has also refused to back the president.

Speaking to reporters outside the presidential residence of Muliaage on Tuesday, President Solih openly spoke out against his former longtime friend and aide for forming a separate faction after the primaries.

"It can't be done, can it? It cannot be done," he said when asked about Nasheed forming a separate faction.

President Solih, who won over Nasheed in the primaries, said there were rules and values to be followed within the party. Everyone has to follow these principles, he said.

When asked if he would discuss the election with Nasheed, he said, "We have already selected a presidential candidate and the party should stand with that decision."

"You can't take that decision within the party. There is a decision in the party already," he said.

The President added:

After the primaries results, Nasheed alleged that President Solih had won the presidential ticket through excessive manipulation and coercion. He also raised the issue of deletion of members from the party hierarchy.

However, both President Solih's team and MDP have denied the allegations.

Although he accepted the results of the primaries, instead of following President Solih, Nasheed is trying to achieve 50,000 members for his 'life of ideology' movement. A decision on the presidential election will be taken later, Nasheed had said.

MDP officially presented president Solih with the presidential ticket last month and Nasheed filed a petition in the civil court seeking to cancel the primary.