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Ex-president Nasheed to run as only candidate in MDP's primary

Fathmath Shaahunaz
19 May 2018, MVT 20:34
Former president Mohamed Nasheed: he is currently the only candidate who applied to run in MDP's primary ahead of the Presidential Election 2018. PHOTO/MIHAARU
Fathmath Shaahunaz
19 May 2018, MVT 20:34

Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) announced late Saturday that the former president, Mohamed Nasheed, was the only candidate to apply for the party's primary slated for May 30.

As the deadline to apply for MDP's primary passed on Saturday, Nasheed's campaign manager, Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam, submitted the former president's application on his behalf. The submissions included a petition with 7,739 signatures of MDP members in favour of Nasheed's candidacy.

In a statement, the main opposition declared that its electoral committee had deemed the documents legitimate.

While Nasheed is working to run in the presidential elections slated for coming September with MDP's electoral ticket, his ongoing conviction to 13 years of imprisonment over the arbitrary detention of a judge during his regime renders Nasheed ineligible to run for presidency, under the current Maldivian Constitution. Nasheed has also exiled himself to the United Kingdom where he currently lives under political asylum, after the government permitted him to go abroad for medical attention soon after his sentence commenced.

The ruling coalition declares that Nasheed would not be legally allowed to run for presidency. However, the former president has cryptically responded that the opportunity would be realised "in the last moment".

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