Nasheed and The Democrats Members Return to MDP, Strengthening Opposition Ahead of Key Elections
Former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih | Photo: MDP
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has welcomed the decision by former president Mohamed Nasheed and members of The Democrats to return to the party, two years after their departure.
The Democrats, during a national assembly meeting on Tuesday, passed a resolution to rejoin the MDP. The decision was framed as a move to build a stronger opposition, restore public trust in the multi-party system, and improve the country’s political future ahead of the 2026 local council elections.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
ނޫސްބަޔާން: ރައީސް ނަޝީދާއި ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސްގެ ބޭފުޅުންނަށް މަރުހަބާ pic.twitter.com/bNMIuSLNCS— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) June 18, 2025
The MDP’s national council met informally at party headquarters on Wednesday night to discuss the development. No objections were raised, and the return of the Democrats was unanimously accepted.
Following the meeting, senior MDP leaders expressed support for the decision. Party president Abdulla Shahid called for unity and urged citizens and members of other political parties to join the MDP. Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail described the move as timely, citing the need for a strong opposition to hold the government accountable.
މި ޕާޓީގެ ކުރީގެ ރައީސް މުހައްމަދު ނަޝީދުއާއި ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސްގެ މެންބަރުން މި ޕާޓީއާ ގުޅުމަށް ނިންމާފައިވާތީ މަރުހަބާ ދަންނަވަމެވެ. އެމްޑީޕީ އަކީ ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް ޑިމޮކްރެސީ ތައާރަފުކުރުމާއެކު އިސްލާހަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރުމުގެ ވިސްނުމުގައި އުފެދުނު ޕާޓީއަށް ވުމުގެ އިތުރުން ރާއްޖޭގެ…— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) June 18, 2025
Nasheed, a founding member of the MDP and former president from 2008 to 2012, had left the party in mid-2023 after internal disputes, particularly with former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The split was seen as a key factor in the MDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސްގެ މެމްބަރުން @MDPSecretariat އާ ގުޅިވަޑައިގަތުމަށް ނިންމެވި ނިންމެވުމަށް މަރުޙަބާ ދަންނަވަން. އިސްލާމް ދީނުގެ ޞައްޙަ ޢަޤީދާގެ މަތީގައި ދެމިތިބެ، ޑިމޮކްރަސީގެ ހަމަތައް ނަގަހައްޓާ، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޞްލަޙަތު އަބަދުވެސް އިސްކުރާ ބަޔަކަށް އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ވަމާ ހިގާށެވެ.… pic.twitter.com/KWPeFBiyza— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) June 19, 2025
After stepping back from active politics to serve as secretary general of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, Nasheed began calling for greater cooperation between the MDP and Democrats earlier this year. His return follows a meeting with Fayyaz and comes ahead of two major elections — with Nasheed also considering a presidential run in 2028.
His return is expected to intensify internal competition within the MDP. Fayyaz has already declared his intention to seek the party’s presidential ticket, while both Solih and Shahid are also reported to be preparing for the primary contest.
