Nasheed rules out backing Pres Solih in runoff

Parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed, who formed The Democrats after quitting MDP, said on Sunday that even if no candidate is able to secure more than 50% of the votes in the first round of the upcoming presidential election, he will not support President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the runoff.

The Democrats candidate, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb is traveling to the islands of Maldives on campaign tours. Former President Nasheed is also attending the trips. Arriving in N. Velidhoo, Nasheed addressed his supporters.

Referring to President Solih's refusal to hold mid-term elections as included in MDP's 2018 manifesto, Nasheed said that the saddest part of President Solih's tenure was that he did not comply with MDP's 2018 manifesto for holding an election within 18 months.

“It [the manifesto decided to hold an election] because many political leaders were in jail when we went to the [2018] elections. We all agreed to give all political leaders a chance,” Nasheed said.

Although the MDP's 2018 manifesto included a mid-term election, the MDP's later coalition manifesto did not mention the election. President Solih came to power through the coalition, with its manifesto.

Nasheed on Sunday said that after coming to power, President Solih initially said that a five-year term was too long, but later changed his tone and wanted another term.

Nasheed said he believes that the main purpose of bringing democracy to Maldives is to uphold laws, practices, culture and beliefs so that no one can stay in power for too long.

"When someone gets a second term, it makes them put down their roots there. They want to stay for too long," Nasheed, a longtime close friend of President Solih, who is now a political enemy, criticised Solih’s desire for a second term.

Nasheed said Solih is trying to get various people to speak to him, but he would not “follow President Solih in a second round”.

“We will not go with President Solih in the second round,” Nasheed said loudly.

Nasheed said he would not stop the work until President Solih is down to third place in the September 9 election.

"We will be in the second round. We will hopefully win this election," Nasheed said to the applause of his supporters.

Further criticising the President, Nasheed said:

Nasheed said he came out with a young candidate to do something for the island. However, he did not give details.