With the decision to contest in the MDP presidential primary to select the party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election, the party's President and former Speaker of the People's Majlis, Abdulla Shahid, resigned from the position of Party President — a beautiful example of democracy rarely seen in the Maldivian political arena.
While various figures have already been expressing interest in the MDP presidential ticket in different ways and unofficially conducting various campaign activities, Shahid is one of the few individuals who has officially announced his candidacy for the presidential ticket.
Looking at the laws of the Maldives and the MDP’s constitution, there is no obstacle whatsoever to contesting for the presidential ticket while holding the position of Party President. Nor is there any prohibition against conducting a broad presidential primary campaign while holding the party’s highest office.
Therefore, the most important question that arises in this situation is: why did Shahid resign from the party presidency at the very rally where he announced his candidacy in the MDP presidential primary? Shahid himself answered this question that night at the rally. He revealed that his wish was to conduct a campaign of integrity — clean and honest — free from personal interests and undue influence, and free even from the shadow of such accusations, while contesting in an internal party election from the party’s highest position.
It is not a common sight in Maldivian politics for political figures to voluntarily resign from the positions they hold without any major issue or compulsion. For this reason, many are noting Shahid’s step with special respect.
Furthermore, during his tenure as Party President, Shahid demonstrated a democratic example by not taking sides in the party’s internal elections. During the party’s Chairperson election, as well as other internal elections, he had stated while serving as President that he would not favour or endorse any particular candidate and campaign for them — and he demonstrated this through his actions.
Another point worth noting is that some of the senior figures supporting Shahid and participating in his campaign in this presidential primary are also acting in accordance with the example Shahid has set. Among those who have so far resigned from senior party positions in order to support Shahid and participate in the primary activities are the party’s Deputy Chairperson, former Baarah constituency MP Ahmed Abdulla, and the party’s Vice President, former Thulhaadhoo constituency MP Hisaan Hussain. Upon resigning, Hisaan said that since former Party President Abdulla Shahid — who had appointed her to that position — had stepped down from the party presidency, remaining in the position of Vice President without a fresh mandate would not be consistent with the principles of democracy.
Many people today believe that Abdulla Shahid’s team, which has announced his candidacy in the MDP presidential primary and is conducting broad campaign activities, has demonstrated a principled stand.
Without a doubt, when candidates contesting in elections resign from the senior party positions they hold and conduct their campaigns independently — in a way that opens the door to justice and equality, which are the most important foundations of democracy — public trust in them increases. This is because if one candidate gains access to money and resources on one hand, and the opportunity to exert influence on the other, the results of the primary will be called into question and the party’s unity will be lost.
The example set by Abdulla Shahid and his team is being described by many as a beautiful quality that other candidates in this presidential primary, as well as political figures who contest in similar elections in the future, should emulate. Many are also saying that this is an important step towards strengthening internal party democracy and shaping matters so that the genuine voice of party members is reflected in the primary results. Especially coming from someone who has girded up to reach the position of the country’s Head of State, and from members of such a person’s team, this demonstration of a beautiful democratic example is being described by many as something that can add real colour to the dreams the people hold for the country’s future — and as a very significant force towards building a culture of democracy, as is very clearly evident from these decisions by Abdulla Shahid and some senior members of his team.
