Imran: Election would be succeeded by a coalition that includes Adhaalath Party

Adhaalath Party’s (AP) leader, Home Minister Imran Abdulla has remarked that this year’s presidential election would be succeeded by a coalition which includes the party.

In a tweet following Elections Commission’s (EC) announcement of the date for the presidential election – Imran said that by will of god, this year’s election would also be succeeded by a coalition which includes AP.

Since the first election held in the Maldives with multi-political parties – AP has played a role in the election of each administration. The current administration was elected through a coalition which included the party.

While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is campaigning for a second term – in an earlier remark, he had emphasized that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will grab the election, which can only be achieved through a coalition.

Meanwhile, MDP’s leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has stated that there is no opportunity to make coalitions in the upcoming election based on the significant changes to the political arena in the Maldives since forming coalitions four years ago to change the administration.

Many political parties are likely to compete in the presidential election. The conviction of opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom lowering his chances in the election has been viewed by many as hope for other political leaders to attain presidency.

President Solih, commenting regarding forming a coalition, said that the current focus was to win MDP’s primary. He said forming a coalition would be discussed thereafter.

While Minister Imran has spoken in support of President Solih – he has earlier stated that a president who cannot work alongside multiple parties would now find it difficult to carry out presidency.