Main ruling Maldivian Democratic (MDP)'s former chairperson, Moosa Manik has said that the party is required to give incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih two terms of presidency as per its own rules.

Manik's statement comes a little over a day after MDP leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is also the current parliament speaker, announced that he will be the party's candidate if there is a presidential election in 2023.

Stressing that MDP must not hold any primaries to determine its candidate in the next presidential elections, Manik said this is because the party had, back when Nasheed ran for presidency in 2013, voted and decided that a person that completes one term should be given a second one.

Therefore, Manik said that if the party chooses to hold primaries in 2023, that its 'word and actions do not match'.

While he made the claims in an interview on RaajjeTV's morning show on Wednesday, the former Hulhu-Henveiru constituency MP also praised the government's work in handling the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted many operations in the Maldives have continued without fail despite the many challenges caused by the pandemic.

Further, Manik described MDP members as "highly respectable in terms of their courage and perseverance", adding that the party has no place for any individuals attempting to set members apart. Noting that most of the party members still support President Solih, the former MDP chair said that there will not be a rift in the party as long as Solih's popularity remains.

However, he said those that support Nasheed are pushing for him to be MDP's candidate in the 2023 elections and that this will lead to obstacles.

Manik added that the party will lose the 2023 presidential election is Solih and Nasheed are unable to come to an agreement on the matter.

Moosa Manik was removed from MDP back in 2016, after he violated a three-line whip issued by the party parliamentary group. He signed with Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in 2017.