Malé, Maldives – Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed on Monday night, said that he intends to participate in the MDP primary for the 2023 presidential election, if there is one.
Speaking on the “Ask Speaker” programme while in England for medical treatment, Speaker Nasheed said that he will participate in the MDP for the 2023 presidential election, if there is one. He added that if the government system changes to a Parliamentary System before the election, he aims to be the new Prime Minister of Maldives as well.
Nasheed previously announced his plans to become the Prime Minister, if the government system changes. However, this is the first time Speaker Nasheed publicly announced that he aims to become the MDP candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
In addition to this, Speaker Nasheed expressed his opinion, that he does not believe there will be a presidential election in 2023 and that the government system will change to a Parliamentary System before that, and the government will be made within the parliament. He added that his will request for his name to be included when the parliament appoints the prime minister.
A local on the “Ask Speaker” programme on Monday night, asked whether Speaker Nasheed would support President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih if he decided to take part in the presidential election. Replying to this question, Nasheed said that he will become the MDP candidate for the presidential election in 2023.
However, Nasheed said that if such a situation arises where he is unable to take part in the elections and President Solih decides to run for the President, he would definitely support him. Nasheed added that he will always continue to support MDP candidates.
Furthermore, Nasheed said that it is not wise to have a presidential election in 2023 and that the opinion of the citizens must be taken to change the government system in the coming year.
I believe that the nation will be run most efficiently in a parliamentary system. Having a parliament that is answerable to the citizens alongside a prime minister to run the the government will be the most advantageous for the citizens, and will boost up the rate of development.
Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed
Speaker Nasheed said that he aims to change the government system and amend the Constitution and that hopefully, it will be possible in the near future. He expressed his confidence in the opposition leaders as well, saying that they will support the amendments to the Constitution. Speaker Nasheed emphasised that Former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayyoom also supported a parliamentary system in the past and that he has not yet expressed his disapproval for such a system.
