Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) President and the Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday night expressed confidence in winning the party’s presidential primary, slated for January 28.
Speaking to the press after his campaign trip to the Maldives’ northernmost atolls, Nasheed said that he did not picture himself losing the upcoming primary to the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and that he would not be contesting if he did not think he would win.
"I won’t lose this election – I don’t see that happening, that’s not even a question. You’re asking what will happen ‘if’ I lose," Nasheed said, responding to a question about whether he would concede defeat if he lost the election.
Nasheed was repeatedly asked whether he would work with Solih if he lost the election; however, he deflected the question and reiterated that he would win the MDP primary election.
"I don’t think President Solih will win this election. I can’t picture it; it’s not something that has ever happened…If I thought I’d lose, I wouldn’t be competing," the former President said.
Indicating a reason why he believes Solih would not win, Nasheed said that the President’s decision to allegedly expel members from the party would result in him losing over 70,000 votes. He said that Solih would also lose votes from his close allies as well.
Nasheed also addressed concerns about MDP splitting due to the in-party rivalry. He claimed that the MDP is the most democratic party in the South Asian region, and as party President, he promised that the party would not split like many other political parties that have fragmented and formed new parties.
In a press conference held last week, Solih stated that the fundamental difference between the two leaders was caused by his current position as the President, and that Nasheed had always wanted to be in power. He also expressed confidence in his ability to secure majority votes in the MDP primary.
At the press conference, Nasheed also spoke about former President Abdulla Yameen and his recent 11-year jail sentence for bribery and money laundering. He said that a leader of a political party being in jail is not something to celebrate, nor is it something he condones.n