At Addu rally, Fayyaz says stabilising the country and bringing major reforms is only possible if Nasheed is elected MDP chair

The opposition MDP can only stabilise the country and bring about major changes if former President Mohamed Nasheed is re‑elected as its chairman, former MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail said on Saturday evening, speaking at the ‘Bodu Badhalu’ rally in Addu.

Fayyaz said the MDP could bring major changes to governance by amending the Constitution, adding that no party other than the MDP has brought positive change to the Maldives.

Therefore, he said, the MDP must advocate for “big change” and give hope to the people.

As such, he said the people should break out of their current state, speak to the public, and change the government.

“These changes require changes in the MDP, very big changes in the MDP, changes in the running of the MDP, and at this sensitive time, those changes can only be brought about by a strong personality,” he said.

He said Nasheed is capable of bringing about those changes.

Fayyaz said many people trust Nasheed to overcome the situation the country is facing.

“So we are trying to put the country on the right track and change the country so that we and our children will not be in protest forever,” he said.

Fayyaz’s comments come as Nasheed has openly expressed support for bringing him to power.

The two, who previously exchanged verbal attacks, have been working together for a year.

In addition to expressing his support for bringing Fayyaz to power, Nasheed announced his candidacy for the MDP chairmanship at a press conference held on Sunday.

“I support Fayyaz Ismail as the supreme head of government to bring about this major change,” Nasheed announced.

“And I will work with it first of all to get the agreement of the MDP and their acceptance for these changes. So I intend to run for the MDP chairmanship,” he said.

He said he was doing so to bring about the necessary positive changes to the Constitution and the system of governance.