Nasheed: Election victories in Maldives were possible only with extremist vote

Parliament Speaker and leader of ruling MDP, former President Mohamed Nasheed states pandering to extremists is often deemed necessary for political expedience in Maldives, especially during elections.

In an interview to Indian newspaper The Hindu last weekend, Nasheed victories in the three presidential elections in Maldives under the new Constitution were possible only with the extremist vote.

“We have had three elections under the new Constitution. The MDP won twice — in 2008 and 2018, and President Yameen’s PPM won in 2013. All three victories were possible only with the extremist vote,” he said.

Nasheed warned the tendency could take Maldives to a dangerous place in the next few years. And that there is danger of Maldives becoming a second Afghanistan.

Nasheed described President Ibrahim Mohamed Nasheed to The Hindu as a “very good friend”, and said he has nothing personal against him.

He also said he does not want MDP to split.

“As long as I am there, I will make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said.

Nasheed said that those committed to moderate values in Maldives must come together in a common platform. “And that could include the PPM too,” he said.

Nasheed’s interview to The Hindu came after he aired his grievances against President Solih’s administration in a statement on Saturday. He accused President Solih of compromising MDP’s fundamental values in favor of appeasing government coalition partners.

He said that MDP requires not only requires diplomacy and compromise, but also courage and steadfastness on fundamental issues such as freedom, equality and economic progress.