President Solih prepares for first press conference in months

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is scheduled to hold a first press conference Wednesday evening – his first in months.

An official from the President’s Office told Sun President Solih will meet the press at 04:30 pm Wednesday.

His last press conference was six months back, on June 8.

President Solih’s upcoming press conference comes amid increased political turmoil in Maldives.

He is currently campaigning for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential primary – scheduled for January. He is running against the party’s leader, Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The upcoming election has increased the rivalry between the two factions within MDP – which childhood friends turned political rivals President Solih and Nasheed had cofounded.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was convicted of money laundering and bribery and sentenced to 11 years in prison earlier this week. Yameen’s party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has accused President Solih of influencing the court ruling to eliminate Yameen from the presidential race and has launched serial protests in Male’ City.

President Solih is excepted to address the developments during the press conference.