Former President Mohamed Nasheed and opposition leader Fayyaz Ismail met for lunch on Monday, following a gathering at Nasheed’s family home the previous evening, as discussions around the 2028 presidential race and the future of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) intensify.
The meetings come amid speculation over Nasheed’s potential return to the MDP and his interest in seeking the party’s presidential ticket for 2028. Fayyaz, who currently chairs the MDP, has also announced his candidacy for the primary.
In a post on X, following Monday’s meeting, Fayyaz said, “This country can only be put on the right track if those working for reform work together,” calling for unity among pro-democracy forces.
Nasheed resigned from the MDP in June 2023 after a public rift with then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, following the latter’s decision to seek a second term. Nasheed, who lost to Solih in that year’s primary, went on to form The Democrats with a group of loyalists. While several of his allies have since returned to the MDP, Nasheed remains politically unaffiliated and currently serves as secretary-general of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an international climate coalition.
Two weeks ago, Nasheed informed several MDP members that he was considering running in the 2028 presidential election and sought their views on the matter. Though not actively engaged in domestic politics, Nasheed has said he does not intend to fully withdraw from political life.
In April, he proposed a merger between the MDP and The Democrats. Fayyaz publicly welcomed the suggestion, although no formal talks have followed.
The MDP is expected to see a competitive primary in the lead-up to the 2028 election. Alongside Fayyaz, other likely contenders include former President Solih, MDP President Abdulla Shahid, Malé Mayor Adam Azim, and Hulhumalé South MP Dr Ahmed Shamheed.
Nasheed, a founding member of the MDP in 2003, became the Maldives’ first democratically elected president in 2008. He stepped down in February 2012 under contested circumstances, which he continues to describe as a coup d’état.