Nasheed re-elected as MDP leader: preliminary results

Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed was re-elected as the leader of ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Preliminary results of the MDP leadership election held on November 22 revealed that the former president garnered 24,202 votes in favour of his re-election compared to 421 negative votes. A total of 479 ballot papers were declared void.

MDP held a referendum vote for the Parliament Speaker as he was the only candidate vying for the position of president.

Minister at the President’s Office Mohamed Shifaz was elected as the party's vice president by a margin of more than 3,000 ballots. While Shifaz attained 13,815 votes, the remaining candidate Mohamed Aslam received 10,840 votes. A total of 447 ballots cast to choose MDP vice president were nullified.

Aslam, MDP's current parliamentary group leader and Hithadhoo North MP, submitted 11 issues regarding the leadership election to the party secretariat and refused to accept the results, asserting that his electoral rights were impinged upon.

According to local media outlet Mihaaru, MDP Secretary General Anas Abdul Sattar confirmed that the preliminary results were announced after clarifying the 11 issues in writing.

A total of 25,102 members voted in the leadership election of MDP, the largest political party in the ruling coalition.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih congratulated Nasheed and Shifaz on their electoral victory via a tweet.