The main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) 's Chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, has said the party was discussing the upcoming presidential election with MDP leader and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
Late January this year, Nasheed contested against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the MDP presidential primary and was defeated by a large margin. Following his defeat, Nasheed has said he would not back President Solih in the September presidential election. He has been working to establish a new party wing named 'Fikuregge Dhirun', the same slogan he used in his primary campaign. The party remains divided into two factions.
Speaking to reporters after discussions with MDA regarding forming a coalition for the election, Fayyaz said the party would become stronger as the election approaches. Fayyaz acknowledged that there would be differences of opinion and described the party's current internal conflicts as a power struggle.
Fayyaz further said the party would work with other parties willing to form a coalition and win the presidential election in a single round. He said a run-off would add several difficulties.
MDA leader and prominent businessman Ahmed Siyam Mohamed has decided not to contest the upcoming presidential election and instead form a coalition with a contesting party. Meanwhile, the current coalition partner, Adhaalath Party, has announced it would back President Solih, while the remaining partners, JP and MRM, are yet to make a decision on the matter.
