The PPM-PNC presidential candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has said winning the second round of the presidential election takes precedence over discussing the change in the Maldives' government system.
Last week, the Parliament passed a resolution to conduct a referendum on the change of the system of government before October 30. The decision comes while the second round of the presidential election, contested by Dr. Muizzu and incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, looms ahead.
Speaking to reporters after concluding campaign tours to northern atolls, Muizzu said the issue of the government system is not an issue he wishes to debate at this time and that His focus is currently on winning the presidential election.
Muizzu, who emerged as the leading contender in the initial round of the presidential election with 46 percent of votes, won a majority in all but three atolls. The majority of the remaining three atolls -- Lhaviyani, Alif Alif, and Addu City-- were won by PResidne tsolih.
When asked regarding these results, Muizzu expressed optimism about securing more votes from these atolls in the second round. He said he would visit Addu City before ending his election campaign.
"We anticipate improvement over our past performance. While I cannot predict whether we will secure the majority of support, one thing is certain: it will definitely be better than before," he said.
Muizzu said he would get a good number of votes from the supporters of candidates who contested the initial round but did not advance to the second round, despite some of them not formally endorsing any candidate for the second round.
"They are working with us in many islands. They want a positive change now," he said.
Muizzu received 101,180 votes in the first round of the presidential election. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih received 85,935 votes, equivalent to 39 percent. Muizzu confidently asserts his victory in the presidential election, although he acknowledges that determining the exact percentage of success remains challenging to predict.
