Nasheed: MDP lost 2023 polls because of Solih’s low popularity

The main reason why the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lost the 2023 presidential elections is because of the low popularity of then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, says former President Mohamed Nasheed.

He made the remark on Saturday morning via his unofficial X account.

It comes as he faces criticism for his role in the rift that formed within the MDP ahead of the 2023 elections, which is widely believed to be the reason why the party lost re-election.

But Nasheed, who now eyes a return to MDP leadership, believes the main reason why the party lost the 2023 elections was because of Solih’s low popularity.

MDP ah 2023 gehlunu enme bodu sababakee eyfaharuge candidate Raees Solih ah oia magbool kan kudavun.

— MN unofficial (@anedhivehirajje) May 23, 2026

In 2018, Nasheed backed a successful campaign to hoist Solih to power, after he was ruled out of contention due to a conviction that was later overturned.

But tensions flared between Nasheed and Solih as it drew closer to the 2023 presidential election, especially after the former lost the MDP presidential ticket to the latter in January that year.

The rivalry between them created a rift within the MDP, culminating into Nasheed and those loyal to him leaving the party in June 2023, to form a new party, the Democrats.

Following the formation, Nasheed famously declared that he would “dismantle” the MDP, a party that he had helped found.

The Democrats’ went on to run against the MDP in the 2023 elections. But its candidate secured just 7 percent votes in the first round. Despite the defeat, the Democrats refused to endorse the MDP in the runoff. The decision proved costly to the MDP, as it lost re-election to now-President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

But in June 2025, Nasheed and his allies left the Democrats and rejoined the MDP.

Nasheed’s jab at Solih comes amid intense rivalry within the MDP ahead of the chairpersonship election. Nasheed is running against Meekail Ahmed Naseem, an incumbent parliamentarian who is backed by Solih.

It also comes as they work together with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to challenge President Muizzu’s administration and push reforms through the United Democratic Front.

Solih recently remarked that the chairpersonship elections was not the place for Nasheed, and that he should remain focused on the work initiated by the three former presidents to push national reforms.