Pres Solih to pick running mate tomorrow

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih – who is running for a second term in office on behalf of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – has announced that he will pick his running mate on Thursday, and file his candidacy the next day.

Speaking to press during a campaign visit to HDh. Hanimaadhoo on Wednesday, President Solih said he has several candidates to choose from.

He said that the potential running mates include his current vice president Faisal Naseem.

The president said he will make his decision after talks with MDP’s coalition partners - Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Adhaalath Party (AP).

President Solih said he will submit his candidacy either Thursday or Friday.

“I plan on picking a running mate and filing my candidacy the latest by Friday,” he said.

The window for filing candidacy for the presidential election closes on Monday.

Former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the leader of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), is the only candidate to have filed his candidacy. However, his candidacy was rejected by the Elections Commission (EC), due to his criminal conviction for money laundering and bribery.

Other politicians who have announced their candidacy for the September 9 election include Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim, Maldives National Party (MNP)’s leader Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim, Democrats’ Ilyas Labeeb, Maldives Reform Movement (MRM)’s president Ahmed Faris Maumoon, and former home minister Umar Naseer and former attorney general Dr. Mohamed Munawwar.