Parliament Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed said on Saturday that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had effectively given all power to promote his candidacy to Junhooree Party's (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim by announcing his intention to run in the Presidential Election of 2023.
Nasheed had said this in a message sent to a group with Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) members after Solih met with Gasim after announcing his intention to run for a second term. The President had made a trip to Gasim's home-island Maamigili in Alif Dhaalu atoll on Friday. MDP's chairperson and Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail and other high ranking MDP members had accompanied the president on this trip.
President announced his intention to run in the election during a press conference held on June 8.
Nasheed said Solih had announced running for a second term assuming that current coalition parties JP and Adhaalath would support him. The sudden trip to Maamigili to meet with Gasim indicates, according to Nasheed, that the announcement was made with no prior discussions on the matter.
“This shows that MDP had not discussed this with JP or Adhaalath. He had to fly to Maamigili immediately after announcing his candidacy.
He said no signs show that JP has made a decision on this matter either.
Gasim has said on Thursday that he remains undecided on the matter of running for president next year. Some MDP members have accused the purpose of the sudden unannounced trip to Maamigili was so that Solih and Gasim can further discuss their intentions towards the presidential election.
Accusations have also been made that Gasim was offered the position of running as Solih’s vice president. No source close to the president have confirmed these accusations though.
"The president's candidacy can only be fulfilled based on JP's decision. I believe MDP has not yet decided the 2023 presidential candidate. However, everyone can work to determine the candidacy," said Nasheed, who has announced that he will run in the election.
"Candidates other than the President can also run for the election."
While the president announced his candidacy for a second term, there was a lot of disagreement over various issues with Nasheed, his closest friend over his political career.
The President said that he is running for a second term because he believes this is how MDP can remain in office. He said MDP is not capable of winning the election if they ran on their own, with no coalitions.
"If MDP wants to remain in office, I am one of the option," said the President.
Nasheed responded to the statement by saying that he saw the president's own desire when he made the announcement. He said that this was not the time to take on the presidency and that the focus should be on the economic situation of the country.
"This is the time to think about ways to improve the foreign currency reserves and maintain the social security of the people," said Nasheed.
The difference of opinion between the nasheed and solih was heightened by the collisions of the parliamentary system. Nasheed wants to change the administration to a parliamentary one while the president wants to compete with a coalition for 2023 in the current presidential system.
However, Nasheed reiterated that mdp and the people will suffer if the election is contesting with a coalition.