Hassan Latheef: Nasheed is the only MDP candidate who can beat Yameen

Former President Mohamed Nasheed is the only politician in the opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) strong enough to beat President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom at the presidential election, says MDP's chairperson, Hassan Latheef.

Hassan made the comment during a press conference at Marbel Hotel this Sunday.

At the press conference, Hassan Latheef said the opposition needed to produce a presidential candidate strong enough to beat President Yameen, and that MDP had only Nasheed with enough popularity to do so.

“The reality of the current political situation is, MDP does not have a politician with more popularity than Nasheed,” said Latheef.

Latheef said that MDP had no intention of producing a presidential candidate other than Nasheed. He said it was what the general party members wanted as well.

“It’s a frequently asked question, whether MDP does not have a candidate other than other than President Nasheed who is strong enough to beat President Yameen. And it’s true, there isn’t such a candidate within MDP. It’s the intention of general party members to produce Nasheed as a candidate,” said Latheef.

Latheef said that whatever the desire of party members, MDP was a democratic party and would therefore hold a presidential primary.

He announced MDP’s presidential primary will be held in May, 2018.

He also said MDP wanted their candidate to be backed as the candidate for the opposition coalition – which includes former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Jumhoory Party (JP) and Adhaalath Party (AP).

Former President Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which disqualifies him from competing in the presidential election. Maldivian law dictates that no one sentenced to more than one year in prison is eligible to run for office.

He currently resides in UK as a political refugee.