President Solih submits candidacy for 2023 election

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has filed his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election with the Elections Commission (EC).

The president’s candidacy form was submitted to the elections center in Dharubaaruge, Male’ City, by his campaign manager, Kinbidhoo MP Mohamed Nashiz on Sunday morning. He was accompanied by top officials from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and the party’s coalition partners.

President Solih secured his party’s presidential ticket in a primary back in January, winning a landslide victory against his rival, the then-MDP leader, Mohamed Nasheed.

The former Maldivian president refused to back President Solih, and he, along with a faction of the party loyal to him, left the party, and formed a new one – The Democrats.

President Solih announced MDP’s parliamentary group leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam as his running mate on Saturday.

MDP has partnered with Adhaalath Party and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) for the election, slated to take place on September 9.

283,272 people are eligible to vote in the election.

Both the opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), and the Jumhoory Party (JP) have also announced plans to contest the election.

However, only PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has submitted his candidacy.

His candidacy was rejected by the EC due to his 11-year prison sentence for money laundering and bribery.

Yameen has contested the decision with the Supreme Court, which is set to issue its verdict in the case on Sunday.