MP Ilyas enters race for Democrats’ presidential ticket

Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb has announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential primary by the new political party – The Democrats.

He announced his intention to enter the race for the party’s presidential ticket in a tweet on Thursday.

In his tweet, Ilyas asked for support from the party’s members.

ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސްގެ ލޮބުވެތި މެމްބަރުންނަށް

2023ގެ ރިޔާސީ އިންތިޚާބުގައި މިޕާރޓީގެ ފަރާތުން ވާދަކުރާނެ ކެނޑިޑޭޓަކު ހޮވުމަށްޓަކައި ބާއްވާ ޕްރައިމަރީގައި ވާދަކުރުމަށް މާތްاللهގެ ވާގިފުޅާއެކު އަޅުގަނޑު ގަސްދުކުރާ ވާހަކަ ދެންނެވީމެވެ. މެންބަރުންގެ ތާއީދަށް އެދެމެވެ.

ޝުކުރިއްޔާ ????

— ilyas labeeb ???? (@ilyas_labeeb) July 20, 2023

The Democrats is composed of members of a breakaway faction of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), loyal to the main ruling party’s former leader Mohamed Nasheed.

During the first meeting of the party’s interim council, the party’s interim chairperson Hassan Latheef announced that the party’s presidential candidate would be decided in a primary, and that the election would be held “soon.”

However, earlier this week, Nasheed, Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, and Maldives National Party (MNP) leader Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim met for talks, after which they their decision to back a common presidential candidate.

When asked if he intends to contest his party’s primary, Nasheed said he had no such plans.

The 2023 presidential election is slated for September 9.