President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he will be directly involved in the upcoming elections amid accusations by opposing political parties that President Nasheed was exerting indirect influence over the parliamentary elections. At Friday night’s general assembly of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Nasheed spoke of even greater involvement in the elections once MDP candidates have been determined.
“Some political parties have accused me of being indirectly involved in the elections. This is a big misconception for I am directly involved” said Nasheed. “This is a completely different system. I didn’t assume the office of President as an independent candidate. That was the way under the old constitution. We are now following a new constitution. The form and the spirit of this constitution are very clear. This constitution supports a multi-party presidential system” the President said.
Nasheed expressed confidence in his party’s candidates’ chances of victory in the elections. Considering each candidate has to win about 800 or 900 votes, MDP candidates are the most capable and popular in their respective constituencies. The candidates represent the best hope of the most populous island within the constituency. Therefore, the President said there is no reason MDP cannot win 50 seats in the parliament.
“I don’t see any way we can lose this election,” he declared. “I am certain we will win the 50 seats, with ease, god willing. I would say studying sorcery in Salafiyya is not going to help them. We knew then that spending some time in the dusts of Gahira will not teach them anything about the country or its people. I am telling you repeatedly that I am directly involved in this election,” Nasheed concluded.
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