This is an English translation of Hassan Mohamed's analysis for Adhadhu.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed left the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in July 2023, leaving behind the political institution he had spent years advocating for before its formation.
His departure followed a bitter fallout with then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the wake of a contentious presidential primary.
Following Nasheed’s exit, the MDP suffered two consecutive electoral defeats. The first was the presidential election, followed by a major loss in the parliamentary elections.
After the presidential race, Nasheed stepped back from the political limelight, eventually relocating his professional life and residence to Ghana.
During his time in Africa, a debate persisted over whether his departure had damaged the MDP and to what extent he should be held responsible for the party’s decline.
Discussions also centered on whether the party would ever welcome back the leader who secured victory in the Maldives' first multi-party presidential election in 2008.
Amidst these conversations, it was the party’s former Chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, who reached out to Nasheed. Fayyaz travelled to Africa to meet with him, a move that accelerated preparations within the MDP to welcome Nasheed back into the fold.
On June 23, 2025, Nasheed officially rejoined the MDP during a rally held at Sultan Park in the capital, Male’. Upon his return, he delivered a message of hope to party members and the Maldivian public at large.
"The people of the Maldives will fully restore their trust in the Maldivian Democratic Party. Politics is a noble pursuit. As political leaders, we engage in this work for one sole purpose: to see if we can do good for the citizens of this country and to strive to transform their general well-being," Nasheed said that day.
That evening, Nasheed also shared the personal emotions he felt upon rejoining the party.
"I have been away from the party for about two years. But standing here tonight, I am profoundly happy. You know that I live in Africa; the joy, the satisfaction, and the smile that comes with returning home is something I don't think I will ever forget. Thank you all very, very much," he said.
Following his return, Nasheed resumed his active role in the party’s political affairs. He moved back to the Maldives and began engaging deeply in the critical work of both the party and the nation.
However, internal frictions between various party factions soon became public. This tension surfaced following the government’s defeat in last April’s local council elections and the constitutional referendum.
The conflict escalated when Nasheed was denied the opportunity to speak at a rally to celebrate the party's successes. This led to the formation of a new internal coalition between former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and MP Ahmed Shamheed.
Then, on April 19, Nasheed and Fayyaz presented a proposal titled "The Big Change." A key component of this reform was the separation of the roles of Head of State and Head of Government. On the day this proposal was announced, Nasheed decided not to contest the presidential primary, choosing instead to endorse Fayyaz Ismail.
In today’s chairperson election, Nasheed campaigned on the platform of "The Big Change." His victory can be viewed as a major endorsement of the manifesto championed by both Nasheed and Fayyaz.
Throughout the campaign, Nasheed displayed extraordinary stamina. He visited 84 islands and nearly 1,500 households. He even extended his campaign efforts to neighbouring Sri Lanka.
During the campaign, when the government began a series of crackdowns on the press, Nasheed joined protests in solidarity with journalists. He also joined a coalition formed by former President Abdulla Yameen to defend press freedom and the right to freedom of expression.
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Even before the polls opened, Nasheed was widely expected to win. This was confirmed within an hour of the ballot counting, as he secured a commanding lead in the majority of ballot boxes.
Preliminary results indicate that Nasheed will secure close to 70 percent of the vote. This serves as a powerful testament that he has regained the popularity that had waned following his departure from the MDP.
The task ahead is to revitalize the MDP, echoing sentiments once shared by President Yameen, who described the MDP as a "party of intellectuals." With the party now reunited, the focus turns to vigorously holding the government accountable.
