Gasim to ask JP council to reconsider supporting a candidate

Leader of Jumhoory Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim has said that he will ask the party council to reconsider endorsing a candidate for the second round of the presidential election.

Gasim made the announcement at a press conference following a meeting with Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, inside Gasim’s residence Maafannu Villa this afternoon, where the former president had urged the resort tycoon to back PPM candidate Abdulla Yameen.

Officials of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) also met with Gasim Ibrahim last night to urge him to support MDP candidate Mohamed Nasheed in the presidential runoff.

At the press conference today, Gasim said that outgoing president Mohamed Waheed also spoke to him today and asked him to continue matters in line with the national interest.

Following Gasim’s defeat in 9 November presidential election, in an audio message via VTV on Sunday night, Gasim said that he will not assist any candidate in their efforts to become president and officially confirmed that JP’s council had decided that the party will not support any candidate in the second round.

Gasim said he has decided to reverse the decision and ask the JP council to reconsider the stance in light of requests from all sides to prioritize the interests of the nation.

“I have decided through JP on a neutral stance because I believed it was the best decision. But today, all three parties (incumbent president Mohamed Waheed and former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed) have asked me to do this (reconsider the decision). So I have decided to take the matter again to the party’s national council,” Gasim Ibrahim said.

He said JP council will make a decision based on the propositions from MDP and PPM.