Solih and Nasheed Open to Collaborating with Former President Yameen

Former Presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohamed Nasheed said they are willing to set aside past differences to work with former President Abdulla Yameen.

Speaking at a joint press conference, both former leaders—elected on Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) tickets with coalition support—reflected on the current state of the country and highlighted their coalition with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as well.

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“We can work together. I believe we can find the right path to work together. Given the state the country is in right now, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. To get these done, to have President Yameen’s involvement in this is…” Solih paused, searching for the right word, before Nasheed interjected: “Something we would prefer.”

Nasheed was elected as the first president of the Maldives under the multi-party system established in 2008 but did not complete his term, resigning in 2012 amid nationwide unrest. His vice president, Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who is now the Special Envoy of the President, completed the remainder of the term. Yameen won the 2013 presidential election on the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) ticket. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was elected in 2018, followed by the current President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who won the 2023 election.

No Maldivian president has ever secured two consecutive terms. Relationships between administrations and opposition parties have historically been tense.