Siyam, Qasim and Nasheed invited to form coalition with PPM

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has invited Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader and Parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA)’s leader Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, and Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim to form a coalition for the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking about debt restructure during the parliamentary sitting Wednesday, Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Toriq (Tom) said the country needed an option other than President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and invited MDP, JP and MDA to work with PPM.

The first leader he invited was Siyam. Tom said Siyam was close to PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and that invited MDA to partner with PPM.

MDA had been part of the coalition government throughout Yameen’s administration. However, the coalition was later dissolved.

Tom then invited JP to partner with PPM for the election. He said that JP had been the only party to partner with PPM for a parliamentary election, and that JP had gotten betrayed every time it formed a coalition with MDP.

And if Qasim and Nasheed were to partner, President Solih would drop to third place in the election.

As the election draws closer, presidential candidates who have announced their intention to contest the election are seeking coalition partners.