Faris: Received invitations to form coalition from both parties, undecided at present

Ahmed Faris Maumoon, who independently contested this year’s presidential election and failed to qualify for the runoff slated for September 30^th, has revealed he has received invitations from both candidates contesting in the runoff to form a coalition.

Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s presidential candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the existing MDP coalition will need more allies to win the runoff, while opposition People’s National Congress (PNC)’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has extended an invitation to political parties to form a coalition.

Faris, in a tweet, said he had received invitations from both President Solih and Muizzu to form a coalition for the runoff.

He said he will hold discussions with both candidates with respect to the points he has put forth in his manifesto.

Faris, noting no decision has been made so far, stressed he would announce a decision at the earliest.

Faris, the son of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, received 2,979 votes in the first round, amounting to 1.35 percent of the total votes.

As per the preliminary results publicized by the Elections Commission, Muizzu led the polls with 101,635 votes. President Solih came in second with 86,161 votes.

The other candidates who contested the election had trailed far behind.