Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that if he cannot contest in the 2018 Presidential elections, then MDP will withdraw from contesting in the elections.

In conversation with RaajjeTV’s Fala Suruhee program, Nasheed stated that over the past years, the public had invested in him greatly. He said his reform agenda and the aspirations of the public were closely linked.

Both MDP National Congress and general members of the Party were at a consensus that Nasheed serving as the candidate was the best option for the Party.

“In the past 15-20 years, Maldivian citizens had invested in me. Their aspirations are tied with my work. Many members of the National Congress and citizens all agree that the best option for the Party was for me to remain as the candidate,” he said.

President Nasheed said MDP members believed that there was no reason for MDP members to seek another candidate.

“They do believe that there is no reason to seek out a new candidate. It’s clear to me that some will say that I do not have much leeway to contest, that I lack the requirements,” he said.

Nasheed, currently in Sri Lanka for meetings with National Congress and general members, said the members want to back another candidate from another Party if Nasheed is barred from the elections.

“MDP believes that if a candidate backed by the Party cannot contest the Presidential Elections, then the Party will back some other candidate. They do not want the other candidate to be from the Party,” President Nasheed said.

Nasheed assured that the Party’s National Congress will strive to ensure that the Party’s candidate will be able to contest the Elections. However, in the event it fails, the Party had arrived at a decision on what to do next.

“We have made plans in the event if this does not pan out. I do believe that the Party and the nation’s future can be determined from this,” Nasheed said.

He added that a free and fair election cannot be held without MDP candidates. Nasheed said that the international partners will rally to action as the election neared, even though they are silent presently.

“Do not believe that anyone can take control of MDP”

President Nasheed denied the rumors that his visit to Sri Lanka was spurred by a loss of control within the Party. He said that he does not believe that anyone can take control of the party, given that members of MDP believes in democracy, and that one individual will not be able to take control of them.

“Many members of MDP believe in free speech and democracy. Taking control from them is hard. I cannot do that and no one else can either. The members will decide on the best course of action for both the Party and the nation,” President Nasheed said.

The former President said that members of MDP clearly and deeply reflected on political issues and were well aware of the issues facing the nation. Therefore, he said that there was no reason to take control from them.

“They will reflect. They are politically astute, carefully reflect on issues. Therefore, I do not see any reason to take control from them,” he said.