The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group has officially endorsed Galolhu South Member of Parliament, Meekail Ahmed Naseem, for the position of party chairperson.

Meekail is set to contest the election against former President Mohamed Nasheed. The endorsement was confirmed during a press conference held today by MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil, who outlined the group’s reasons for supporting the young lawmaker.

Nazil highlighted Meekail’s resilience and loyalty to the party, noting that he successfully retained his seat in the recent parliamentary elections even after the MDP transitioned to the opposition. He contrasted this with the performance of ‘The Democrats’—a party founded by Nasheed after leaving MDP—which failed to win a single seat in the same election.

The internal political landscape remains complex as Nasheed and his loyalists have recently rejoined the party. Reports indicate ongoing friction, including a recent dispute during local council election victory celebrations where Nasheed was reportedly denied the opportunity to speak, leading to a temporary motion to remove interim chairperson Ghafoor.

The MDP chairperson election is scheduled to take place on June 12, 2026.