President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held a meeting with the MPs belonging to the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to discuss how to move forward with the ruling coalition in the light of coalition partner Jumhooree Party (JP)'s decision to contest the presidential election separately.
A meeting attendant told AVAS that the meeting discussed how to move forward with the current coalition and how to conduct the presidential primary. No further details were shared.
On March 14, the JP Council approved to field the party's own candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The JP took the decision after President Solih sent a letter to the leaders of the ruling coalition parties on February 19, inviting them to continue their alliance with MDP for the September election.
Presidential Spokesperson Miuwan Mohamed last week said that President Solih would win this year's presidential election, even without JP's backing. He noted that it would be difficult to run the government with those who oppose the government's policies and those who support the president's rival candidate.
The presidential election will take place on September 9.
