Abdullah Shahid Becomes President of Maldivian Democratic Party Without Election

Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid was appointed as the president of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) without going to an election.

Although many of the MDP's supporters expected former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to remain in office, he chose not to contest the presidency, which allowed Shahid to run unopposed.

After Shahid announced his candidacy, many MDP party leaders and senior figures offered their support for his candidacy. He has previously served as a Member of Parliament, Speaker of the Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and internationally as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Some of the party's supporters have expressed their views on social media and criticized the party's existing leadership. Some members of the party have called for changes in the party's management due to the defeat of the MDP, which is the largest political party in Maldives by membership, in the presidential election.