Qasim’s official response: Will not form a coalition with President Solih

Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader and presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim, in official capacity, has informed the decision against forming a coalition with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the upcoming presidential elections.

Qasim, responding to President Solih’s invitation to form a coalition for 2023’s presidential election, underscored JP’s decision to endorse MDP’s presidential candidate in 2018’s election and in the second round of the 2008’s election.

Underscoring JP had undertaken significant efforts to ensure MDP’s candidate wins the election during both these times, Qasim stressed the efforts had been successful both times.

He said JP, during both times, centered its support for MDP based on its pledge to protect the independence and sovereignty of Maldives in addition to promises of economic and civil stability and development for the nation.

Nevertheless, he said JP, in its congress held in February, decided to independently contest the presidential election based on how President Solih’s administration honored these pledges and promises.

Qasim, noting he had been elected JP’s presidential candidate by the unanimous consensus of the party’s council, conveyed his intention to remain steadfast in implementing this decision.

Only two political parties accepted President Solih’s invitation to form a coalition with the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). They are Home Minister Imran Abdulla’s Adhaalath Party and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed’s Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

MDA, initially decided to contest the election independently. However, the party’s council later unanimously decided to form a coalition, citing it to be the best course of action. In this trajectory, they chose to move forward with MDP and President Solih. 

JP’s congress decided to contest the election independently on February 26^th. The party also decided they will only form a coalition subject to the term that JP leads the coalition. 

JP has since held political discussions with Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed headed 'The Democrats'. Party officials, in a press conference on Thursday, said they are ready to form coalition with Nasheed if necessary.