President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) wants to win the upcoming 2023 presidential election and that the goal can be achieved only if he contests the election on behalf of MDP.
President Solih is seeking a second term as President and will go head to head against former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed in MDP's presidential primary.
At a press conference held at the President's Office on Wednesday, a reporter noted that President Solih had previously said he would be happy if Nasheed came to power and wished to see such a day. He raised questions as this statement is contradicted, with Nasheed and Solih contesting against each other in the primary.
In response to the question, President Solih said the only way MDP could win the 2023 election is if he contested the election on behalf of MDP. He said no party could win the election without leaning on other parties for support, and MDP's candidate must therefore be someone who can attain more than 50 percent of votes in the election. He said he was confident that he would win the election by forming a coalition with the dissident parties through discussion.
"The 2023 presidential election can be won by forming a coalition, even with those that do not share your political views. That is why I decided to contest the presidential primary," he said.
The President said the people accept what the government has done so far in the four years of the current term and that the government will get the support of the people.
When asked by a journalist what the difference of opinion with President Nasheed was, President Solih said it was now a problem for Nasheed that he was in office. There are many political issues on which he disagrees with President Nasheed, but he would respect any decisions made through consultation, he said.
"President Nasheed has made it very clear that he does not want to head the Maldives anymore, that he does not wish to become the president. He has made it clear that he wants prime ministership. However, the government system cannot be changed during this term of office," he said.
