Nasheed’s faction boycotts ceremony to handover MDP’s presidential ticket

Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and his supporters boycotted the ceremony held on Friday night to hand over the main ruling party’s presidential ticket to its presidential candidate, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

While the ceremony still proceeds – none of Nasheed’s supporters have been spotted in attendance. Nasheed’s faction also boycotted the most recent convening of MDP’s National Council which was held to vote on authorizing President Solih to form coalitions on behalf of the party.

The contentious MDP primary had pitched Mohamed Nasheed against President Solih, who went on to win the election with 61 percent of the votes, paving the path for re-election to a second term in office.

Nasheed, while he conceded defeat to President Solih, refuses to back him in the upcoming presidential election. Nasheed said he would make his decision regarding supporting the president based on the opinion of the members of a separate political branch within MDP he is working on forming.

Nasheed and his supporters boycotted tonight’s handover ceremony.

Nasheed and his supporters, following the conclusion of the primary, have been advocating for the formation of a new wing of the party called ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’.

In 2013, Nasheed acknowledged his loss in the presidential election to former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, citing it was the best practice in a democracy. Nasheed also attended Yameen’s oath-taking ceremony.

However, Nasheed remains discontent with the results of MDP’s presidential primary which was held on January 28^th, and has refused to back President Solih.