MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed tonight criticized the discussions being held by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) regarding contesting the MDP presidential primary for the upcoming 2028 presidential election.

A close associate of Solih confirmed today that Solih is conducting broad discussions regarding contesting the 2028 election.

Indirectly responding to the matter, Nasheed, who supports Fayyaz Ismail as MDP's presidential candidate, shared lines from the poem "Nana Huvafen" (Unrealistic dream - It's a quote from a poem by late Maldivian scholar Hussain Salahuhdheen, later sung as a classical song by Naifaru Dhohokko) on social media.

The poem conveys that hopes held in a purely imaginary world without becoming reality, or expectations that things seen in sleep will come to pass, are entirely different from, contrary to, and unbelievable compared to reality.

These poetic lines are commonly used to express that grand hopes people wish to receive or see happen, politically and socially, are powerless matters that will not become reality.

Solih, who came to power in 2018 on MDP's presidential ticket, also won the most recent MDP presidential primary. He won that election by a large margin, competing against Nasheed, who was serving as MDP's president at the time.

However, questioning the results of that primary, Nasheed left MDP and formed a new party named The Democrats. When that party also fielded a candidate for the 2023 presidential election, it became widely considered one of the reasons Solih was not elected for a second term.

While Solih has decided to contest the presidential primary, Nasheed has been stating that he has no intention of contesting the next election. Instead, Nasheed stands in support of former Economic Minister Fayyaz.