Ilyas names Amr as running mate

Ilyas Labeeb, the presidential candidate of The Democrats, has named Hussain Amr, the former managing director of the State Trading Organization (STO), as his running mate.

The party announced it will submit its candidacy for the upcoming election at 01:00 pm on Sunday.

The Democrats is composed of a breakaway faction from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), loyal to the party’s former leader Mohamed Nasheed.

The former president had reportedly tried to pick someone from another party as a running mate, in hopes of securing a partnership for the election.

The party had reportedly engaged in negotiations with the opposition PPM-PNC coalition, and JP.

Amr was dismissed as the head of STO back in March, for his involvement in political activities against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration.

Many of the presidential candidates have now announced their running mates. President Solih picked MDP’s top lawmaker Mohamed Aslam, MNP’s leader Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim picked Dr. Ahmed Adeel Naseer, and PNC’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu picked Faresmaathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef.

However, JP’s leader Qasim Ibrahim, MRM’s president Faris Maumoon, and independent candidate Umar Naseer have yet to announce their running mate.