Nasheed warns against dismissals ahead of MDP internal elections

Parliament Speaker and leader of MDP, former President Mohamed Nasheed has warned against dismissal of the party’s members serving political posts in connection to the upcoming MDP internal elections. 

The main ruling party is scheduled to elect a chairperson and leaders to its Women’s Wing and Youth Wing on April 16. 

Nasheed has accused President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of influencing the internal elections. 

In a message to the MDP national council group on WhatsApp on Sunday evening, Nasheed said that the President was using Article 115 of the Constitution to serve his political agenda. 

Article 115 declares the powers and responsibilities of the President. 

While Nasheed accused President Solih of using Article 115 for politics, he did not elaborate on his accusation. 

Nasheed also warned against dismissal of MDP members appointed to political posts in connection to the elections. 

“If you are to dismiss them, dismiss me as well,” he wrote. 

While Nasheed challenged President Solih to dismiss him, the two positions he currently serves are electoral positions. Therefore, the President does not have the power to dismiss him from either his position as Parliament Speaker or MDP leader. 

Expressing support for Nasheed’s statement, Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim wrote that there wasn’t a shortage of political appointments ahead of the MDP elections. He alleged that it was a move to influence the elections. 

The most highly contested seat in the upcoming MDP elections is that of the party’s chairperson. The seat is being contested by Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail and North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi). 

Some believe the election is also a competition between President Solih and Nasheed. Fayyaz is believed to be backed by the President, while Inthi is believed to be backed by Nasheed. 

However, neither President Solih nor Nasheed have publicly declared support for any candidate.