Former President Mohamed Nasheed who previously announced his candidacy for the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) primary elections ahead of this year's presidential vote, met with volunteers on his campaign team.

MDP decided to hold primaries on 30th May and interested candidates have been given a period for application until the 15th May. 

People from Addu, Fuvahmulah, Haa Dhaalu, Haa Alif and Shaviyani atolls attended the meeting, held at Marble Café. President Nasheed, who is currently in Sri Lanka, spoke to the volunteers via video conference call. 

President Nasheed's campaign manager and member of parliament (MP) for Hithadhoo-North Constituency Mohamed Aslam also attended the meeting.

Regarding the most recent preparations for the primary elections, MDP's Chairperson Hassan Latheef said that a committee of 5 members have been established to manage the process of holding the ballots.

The committee comprises of MDP's Chairperson Hassan Latheef, Vice President Mohamed Shifaz, Malé City Council's Mayor, and MDP's Women's Wing's President Shifa Mohamed, Youth Wing's President Mikail Naseem and national congress member Ibrahim Manik. MDP informed RaajjeMV that the committee has begun the preparations for this year's primary election already.   

Even though Nasheed is currently convicted of terror charges, considered by his supporters and the European Union as well as the United Nations' Human Rights Commission to be politically motived, Nasheed has expressed confidence that he will be allowed to contest in the elections. He said this following his address at the annual general meeting of The Capital Maharaja Organization in Sri Lanka,

While the Elections Commission has announced that the presidential ballots will be held in September this year and candidacy applications will be open from June onwards, the opposition coalition aims to appoint one candidate against the ruling party. Nevertheless, they have questioned whether a free and fair election can be held with the current EC.