Dr. Waheed hints interest in running for presidency if Yameen unable to

Former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has hinted interest in competing in the 2023 Maldivian presidential elections, if the opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom is unable to.

In an interview on Dhivehi Rajjeyge Adu’s Ahaashey Bunaanan show on Saturday, Dr. Waheed, who serves as advisor to Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), asked whether Yameen has any chance of competing in the next presidential elections.

Dr. Waheed responded that PPM believes Yameen will be able to compete in the elections, and is operating under that belief.

He said that if Yameen is unable to run for presidency, he believes PPM will decide their candidate with primary elections.

“That decision lies with the PPM-PNC coalition, right?  I believe that if faces with a circumstance where President Yameen is unable to contend, the party will hold primaries,” he said.

When asked if he would contend in the primaries if given the opportunity, Dr. Waheed said its too early to make a comment, but that he is ready to serve the country however he can.

“Its too soon to say anything about that. However, I am ready to serve the country however I can,” he said.

“If faces with a circumstance where President Yameen is unable to compete, the party will make the best decision for the country and the party itself. If the best way is for me to contend, then that’s the best way.”

Dr. Waheed said that he does not believe there to be any honor or prestige to be attained from being elected president. Noting that he served two years as interim president, Dr. Waheed said that he does not believe he has much time left, and wishes to spend the remainder of his days in service to the country.

“I believe that even with the few time left, I should serve, if provided the opportunity,” he said.

Prior to Yameen’s imprisonment, he had warned PPM members that “carnivorous hawks” were attempting to take over the party.

Dr. Waheed was asked if he was such a “carnivorous hawk” by the radio show host.

Dr. Waheed responded that he was not, and that Yameen had been referring to people who join the party close to elections. He said that he himself had joined PPM with a lot of his supporters.

He was also asked about the fall of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration which led to his ascent as interim president. Dr. Waheed repeated that Nasheed’s administration was not overthrown in a coup d’état, and that he had only met with the opposition when he had served as Nasheed’s vice president to discuss a contingency plan if Nasheed resigned.

He said that his bitterest experience in his political career had been his defeat in the 2013 presidential elections – which was won by Yameen.