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Ruling party popularity below 50 percent; claims Nasheed

Mohamed Rehan
19 April 2022, MVT 11:46
Nasheed during the MDP National Council--
Mohamed Rehan
19 April 2022, MVT 11:46

The current Speaker of Maldives Parliament, the former President Mohamed Nasheed has claimed that the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government was facing a serious dissipation of popularity.

On Monday Nasheed made the remarks in a message sent to the party's WhatsApp group while ongoing campaign efforts to elect a chairperson for the ruling party.

Nasheed said that the ruling party led government was failing to fulfill its campaign pledges.

Nasheed said that the current administration was greatly overestimating its popularity among the proletariats, and the general consensus of public opinion is not favorable towards the ruling party.

Furthermore, Nasheed claimed that the incumbent government has erred severely, while members of the state have refused to take responsibility for such shortcomings.

"I believe it will be difficult for the party to win over 50 percent of votes. We have made several mistakes already," Nasheed said.

The ruling party has not managed to win any elections without entering into political coalitions with other parties since the multi-party political system began in the country more than a decade back.

In both the presidential elections so far, since the multi-party system began, MDP had not managed landslide wins from the first round, which had led to the party forming coalitions with other smaller parties with significant control on various constituencies.

This was apparent during the 2018 presidential election where MDP had to band with Jumhoory Party and Adhaalath Party along with MRM against Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to win.

During Monday evening's campaign rally, the Parliament Speaker had lambasted the incumbent administration's fisheries policy; which he had voiced several times previously as well.

Nasheed's comments have come at a time when the factions within the ruling party have been warring over for the chairperson's seat.

In recent weeks the factions distaste towards one another have become vividly apparent while members of President Ibrahim Solih has alleged that Nasheed's faction was colluding with opposition to undermine the party's efforts.

Earlier, Nasheed had furthered the divide by stating that he is unable to cooperate with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in politics, while hinting that he may seek political alliance with opposing PPM.

President Solih contested this by claiming that the political system in the country might become undone if the two polarizing parties were to join hands.

The divisiveness seems to have rooted out from President Solih's refusal to Nasheed's continued requests for the transition of a parliamentary system in the Maldives instead of a presidential one that would grant executive powers to the Prime Minister.

Nasheed had on several occasions addressed his interest in becoming the Prime Minister of Maldives while shifting the political dynamics to a parliamentary system; a much contested idea by prominent politicians including President Solih.

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