JP Congress votes to contest election without forming coalitions

Jumhoory Party’s (JP) congress on Saturday night came to the decision to advise the part council to contest in the upcoming Presidential Elections solely, without forming any coalitions. 

During JP’s Congress which saw over 800 member participate from across the country, a resolution was presented, calling to lead in running for the elections slated for September 9.

It was submitted by former parliamentarian for South Thinadhoo constituency Abdualla Ahmed who called for the party to come to a decision regarding the election. A debate was held and a subsequent vote was taken based on it.

Majority of those who voted found that the party needed to lead in contesting the elections, and hence the congress made this decision. 

Earlier during this Congress, JP announced the re-election of Maamigili MP Qasim Ibrahim for a new term as the party’s leader. He has been serving as party leader for the last 15 years, and had run for re-election for a fourth term uncontested.

JP is the third largest party in Maldives with some 18,000 members, and had contested with Qasim in the 2008 and the 2013 presidential elections. He won 15 percent of votes in 2008, and 24 percent of votes in 2013 – not enough to qualify for a second round.

However, a now-overturned conviction rendered him ineligible for the 2018 election. JP joined a coalition with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which went on to win the election.

Notably, in all of these elections, JP remained the deciding factor in forming of coalitions during the second round of voting. All three governments formed since the inauguration of the new constitution has had the backing of JP.