Yameen: Ready to negotiate alliance with any party, except MDP

Former Maldivian President and Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom says he is ready to negotiate a coalition deal with any political party in Maldives except for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The statement follows an announcement by Qasim Ibrahim, one of the government coalition leaders and Leader of Jumhoory Party (JP) that he was willing to negotiate an alliance with any political party, including the main opposition party, PPM, for the upcoming elections.

Responding to a question by ‘Sun’ during the press conference after the signing of the coalition agreement between PPM and People’s National Congress (PNC) last Friday night, Yameen said PPM and MDP had too many political differences to make a coalition between the two parties possible.

“With me in the leadership of a party, I find it difficult to negotiate a coalition deal with MDP alone. We have two different political beliefs. We can negotiate with anyone else. And I will seek any such opportunity where possible,” said Yameen.

“Yes. That’s no problem [to form a coalition with Qasim]. We are open to negotiation,” added Yameen, when asked about the possibility of an alliance with JP.

Yameen said he was also open to negotiation with former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – the later who he has accused of endangering his life with the explosion on board the presidential speedboat, Finifenmaa, in 2015.

“So good luck also to anyone looking to form a new political party. We are ready to sit down with any new political party as long as we are approached with sufficient time ahead of the elections,” said Yameen, when asked about the possibility of an alliance with Maldives Reform Movement – a new political party spearheaded by Maumoon which is seeking official registration as a political party.