Former President Solih Says Voters Rejected Government Policies, Calls for Policy Change

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has congratulated the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidates on their success in the nationwide elections, stating that voters had rejected the current administration’s policies and calling on the government to respond to public sentiment.

In a post on X, Solih congratulated elected mayors, council presidents, Women’s Development Committee (WDC) presidents, and other successful candidates. He also thanked citizens who supported MDP candidates in the three nationwide elections held on Saturday.

Preliminary results indicate that MDP candidates, including incumbent mayors in their respective cities, have secured re-election. The referendum held alongside the elections also showed voters rejecting the proposed Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which sought to align presidential and parliamentary elections. The MDP had opposed the amendment.

މަރުހަބާ އެމްޑީޕީގެ (@MDPSecretariat) އިންތިޚާބީ މޭޔަރުން، ކައުންސިލު ރައީސުންް، ޑަބްލިއު ޑީސީ ގެ ރައީސުން އަދި އިންތިޚާބު ކާމިޔާބު ކުރެއްވި ހުރިހާ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުން. ވަރަށް ބޮޑަށް ޝުކުރިއްޔާ އެމްޑީޕީގެ ކެންޑިޑޭޓުންނަށް ވޯޓު ދެއްވި ހުރިހާ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް.

ރައްޔިތުން މިއަދު މިވަނީ…— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) April 4, 2026

“Today, the people have said ‘no’ to the government’s policies. Today, the people have said that the direction in which the government is heading must change. What the government should do without delay is listen to the voice of the people and bring changes to policies as the people desire,” Solih said.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed also said early results pointed to a sweeping victory for the MDP in the 2026 Local Council and WDC elections, describing the outcome as a nationwide setback for the government.