Speaker of the Parliament and former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has said the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) deserves the people's vote in any election held in the Maldives. Nasheed made the statement in an audio message broadcasted at the campaign launching ceremony for MDP's candidate for Komandoo by-election, Mohamed Rashid.
In his message, Nasheed, who is currently in the UK, said the confidence the Maldivian people have in MDP is high and that the fact that the party holds the Parliament's supermajority attests to the statement. He described MDP as a party that brings development closer to the people by promoting an 'island lifestyle' and decentralization. Therefore, MDP is the means to bring development to the Maldives, said Nasheed.
'There is no other party that deserves the peoples' vote more than MDP. The people of Komandoo constituency will once again prove this,' he said.
Nasheed further said MDP remaining in the country's administration for long periods is the key to bringing more benefit to the people. MDP's policies are based on bringing about development that is beneficial to the people, which is why MDP needs to have a landslide victory in the upcoming Komandoo by-election, he said.
Speaking about the death of late Komandoo MP, Hussain Waheed, Nasheed said the upcoming by-election is not an election that MDP takes pleasure in contesting. However, MDP is facing the election again to ensure that the work of Hussain Waheed is carried forward and continued, he said.
The Elections Commission has scheduled the Komandoo by-election for February 5 following the death of MP Hussain Waheed on December 14. In addition to the MDP candidate, two candidates from opposing the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and the newly formed Maldives National Party (MNP) will contest the election.
