Former Chairperson of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Fayyaz Ismail congratulated former President Mohamed Nasheed tonight, noting that the preliminary results indicate a victory for Nasheed in the chairperson election and prove that MDP members are ready for a "big change."
In a post on X, Fayyaz stated that Nasheed’s projected win demonstrates the membership's readiness to implement the "big change" proposed by both him and Nasheed, marking the beginning of that transformation today.
"MDP members have proven they are ready for a big change. With the vote given to President Nasheed, the work to bring this 'big change' to the Maldives has commenced today. MDP onwards," he said.
The core of the "big change" proposed by Nasheed and Fayyaz involves reforming the system of electing the head of government and state. They have described this as a model tailored for the Maldives, distinct from traditional presidential or parliamentary systems.
Fayyaz also commended the efforts of Nasheed’s opponent, Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, and his campaign team. He emphasized that the next step is for the party to unite and defeat the government, expressing confidence that they would succeed through a unified front.
Fayyaz expressed his satisfaction at seeing the "yellow army" mobilized across the country in such a short period. He further extended his gratitude to the campaign team that worked tirelessly for Nasheed’s candidacy.
With results from 115 ballot boxes currently in, Nasheed has secured 6,652 votes, while Meekail has received 2,891 votes. Nasheed currently maintains a lead of 3,761 votes. A total of 241 ballot boxes were placed for this election.
While 50,176 individuals were eligible to vote in today’s election, the total voter turnout has not yet been confirmed.
The position of Chairperson is the most influential administrative role within the MDP. Nasheed has previously served in this capacity.
