President of the Maldives and the presidential candidate of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has met with the leaders of Adhaalath Party (AP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
Both parties have agreed to form a coalition with MDP for the upcoming presidential election.
This is the first meeting between the new coalition partners. The meeting took place Tuesday evening at the presidential residence, Muleeage. The meeting was attended by AP President and Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla, MDA President Ahmed Siyam Mohammed, MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail, and MDP's Parliamentary Group Leader Mohamed Aslam.
No parties have revealed any details of the meeting.
The Jumhooree Party (JP), which is currently in the ruling coalition with the MDP, has decided to contest the upcoming presidential election separately. The current coalition partner, Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), has yet to make a decision regarding the election. MRM officials held talks with President Solih on Sunday, while the MRM and JP leaders also held discussions on Monday.
The upcoming presidential election will be held on September 9 this year.
