Former Foreign Minister Shahid to run for MDP presidency

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has decided to run for the position of president of the main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The position of president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) became vacant when Mohamed Nasheed, who served two terms as party president, resigned.

Since then, the party has appointed former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the acting president. The former President did not say whether he would contest for the post of party president.

In a post on X today, Shahid stated that with new enthusiasm and vigor, MDP has to stand united to take the Maldives back in the direction that the people want.

While the party has announced applications for the post of president, no other member has yet expressed their interest in the position.

Shahid joined MDP after supporting former President Mohamed Waheed in the first round of the 2013 presidential election and later backing the then MDP candidate, Mohamed Nasheed, in the second round.

Shahid had been the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the second MDP government and served as the President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly between 2021 and 2022.