Leader of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and prominent businessman Ahmed Siyam Mohamed has decided against contesting the upcoming presidential election. He made the decision to allow his party to form a coalition with parties contesting the September election.
An MDA official told AVAS that the party's President, Ahmed Siyam, had submitted a statement at the party's council meeting held Wednesday. In his statement, Siyam said he was stepping back in order to give priority to the interests of the country and proposed to form a coalition with a party contesting the election.
"Siyam said this was not the best time for him to contest the election," the official said.
The official further said Siyam had proposed to form a coalition, but the party had not yet decided on it.
Siyam's decision not to contest the Presidential Election comes while he held discussions with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih earlier this month. Neither President Solih nor Siyam has shared the details of said meeting.
In 2013, Siyam worked in a coalition with the opposing PPM's then-presidential candidate, former President Abdulla Yameen. However, in 2018, Siyam refused to form an alliance with Yameen.
