Male’, Maldives – Former President and the current Speaker of the Parliament of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheedh has said that the principles of Mahatma Gandhi inspired the political party he founded, and the current ruling part of the Maldives, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to bring democracy to Maldives.
Sending out a tweet to mark the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule, which, in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Gandhi's principles of non-violence and civil disobedience inspired MDP's campaign to bring democracy to the Maldives — which led to the new Constitution and the Maldives' first democratic elections in 2008.#GandhiJayanti
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) October 2, 2020
Nasheed also said that these principles were what lead to the formulation of the new constitution of the Maldives, as well as the first democratic elections held in 2008.
In the 2008 election, Nasheedh succeeded over the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom after his 30 year long presidency. However, Nasheed later ended up resigning from his post on February 7th of 2012.
Nasheed and his followers, along with MDP stand firm with the belief that Nasheed’s term as President ended due to a coup orchestrated by his then Vice President Mohamed Waheed, who later took on the role as President of the Maldives. However, Waheed and the opposition deny these accusations.
