Nasheed and Solih to forget the past and work together

Former President Mohamed Nasheed and former President and MDP Advisor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) have decided to put aside the differences of opinion they had and assured they would work together in order to strengthen MDP operations.

This is the first time the two have met after their political conflict in 2023 during the Presidential Election. Upon resigning from MDP, Nasheed had registered The Democrats political party with supporters and conducted political activities after he and Solih ran against each other in the Presidential Election primary and after Nasheed was subject to major accusations. MDP lost both the Presidential Election and the Parliament Election as well after the party split from within.

During today's press conference at MDP headquarters upon Nasheed and Solih meeting for the first time after the issues that cropped up between them, Nasheed and Solih announced that they have decided to work together to strengthen MDP's operations, strengthen the party with their leadership and increase party members.

Nasheed said that MDP is a big national figure in Maldives and that they are the ones who gave the public the opportunity to take part in the administration.

"All the other parties that registered at the same time as MDP have been disbanded. But MDP has remained. The reason why is because of the party's internal arrangements," said Nasheed, who had stated after he resigned from MDP in 2023 that he would "disband" the party.

"MDP has a national council, there are party members in government positions, with a national assembly as well. And so, this party has always been run as an institution. Me and Solih are big stakeholders in this. The way we see it, the both of us being a part of this has become crucial for coming generations."

Nasheed stated that Solih has never been one who has strayed as an associate. Nasheed also stated that they have always had differences of opinion but that is not something that would strain their professional ties forever.

As per Nasheed, it would be difficult to form a chasm between each other.

Solih stated that his long-time connection to Nasheed is something that cannot be "unraveled".

"Our ties are not something that formed just the other day. We have always had a difference of opinion, especially in the political sphere. However, we always find a way to move forward as a unit. That is how we have come so far," said Solih. 

Solih went on to say that MDP is a party with a 20-year long history, and that the party has been sustained due to them upholding democratic rules and regulations. Solih also said that they are a party that facilitates opportunities for other people, and that political parties other than MDP are disbanding across Maldives due such opportunities not being present to them.

In the letter Nasheed had sent to MDP after he resigned from the party on 21st June 2023, he wrote that "I am leaving the party as I believe that staying is not the best course of action in light of the current affairs in Maldives."

Subsequently, The Democrats was registered on 12th July 2023 with Nasheed as a senior. However, various party seniors have gone back to MDP early this year. Nasheed went back to MDP in June 2025 after having left for two years.

Nasheed and Solih have expressed interest in running during the 2028 Presidential Election. However, if Nasheed and Solih were to run in 2028, Nasheed wishes another candidate from MDP to run alongside them.

Some journalists have questioned them regarding this today.

Solih and Nasheed said that they had discussed the future of both the MDP and the nation during today's meeting. After the discussions, they decided not to currently speak on anything to do with MDP's candidate for the 2028 Presidential Election.

"We will speak on every matter. We talked about the future of both the MDP and the nation during today's meeting. However, we have decided that it is too soon to speak on the Presidential Election's candidacy. And so, we will put that to the side and move forward," said Solih.

"However, we will tend to it when the time comes. We will do what's best for the party. We have not come to a decision yet."

As Nasheed put it, talks regarding an MDP candidate for the 2028 Presidential Election is currently in an "incubator".

"Those discussions are currently in an incubator, and will tend to it when the time comes. This is what we prefer for the time being," said Nasheed.