President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that former President Mohamed Nasheed’s return shows that hope for the future can never be lost.

Speaking to RaajjeTV upon arrival from Sri Lanka with Nasheed, Solih expressed optimism over Nasheed’s return and said that it was another step forward in their reform movement.

The president-elect said that while there have been huge setbacks to democracy, they have been given new hope due to the hard work of numerous people. He also said that they have now received full confidence that their work will move forward without hindrances

Solih had gone to Sri Lanka on Wednesday to return to Maldives with Nasheed, who has been living in self-exile since receiving political asylum from the United Kingdom after fleeing his prison sentence.

The Supreme Court has recently ordered that Nasheed’s sentence be suspended until it completes its review of his conviction, as requested by the Prosecutor General’s office.

Nasheed was greeted by thousands of supporters upon his arrival in capital city Male’ on Thursday.