Qasim and Dr. Waheed meet for talks

Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim met with former president Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik in his home in Male’ City on Monday, a few hours after he filed his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election.

Qasim visited Waheed at his residence, Ma. Eureka, on Monday afternoon.

He was accompanied by his running mate, JP deputy leader Ameen Ibrahim, and advisor Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik.

Speaking to Sun after the meeting, Qasim said that he invited Waheed to partner with him for the upcoming election.

However, Waheed has yet to make a decision.

“I have made by offer to him. Its up to him to decide,” said Qasim.

Qasim said he was hopeful of receiving Waheed’s support.

“I also asked for support from his family and friends,” he said.

Qasim said that he and Waheed also discussed “the current state of the affairs of this country.”

Waheed, the special advisor to the main ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), had previously hinted interest in contesting the presidential election, if the party’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom is deemed in eligible.

Waheed had also been rumored as possible alternative candidate for PPM.

However, earlier on Monday, Yameen endorsed Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won PPM’s coalition partner People’s National Congress (PNC)’s presidential ticket last week.

The endorsement was announced shortly after Muizzu filed his candidacy on Monday, and has been followed by expressions of endorsement from officials within the PPM-PNC coalition who had previously opposed Muizzu’s candidacy.