The Democratic Party has announced that Ilyas Labeeb is the lone candidate to have submitted his form for the upcoming primary election. With the window for candidacy submissions now closed, Labeeb finds himself in a unique position within the party’s internal selection process.
Under the regulations set forth by the Democrats, when only one candidate enters the primary race, the nominee will be determined through a secret ballot conducted among party members. To secure the ticket for the presidential election, Labeeb must garner at least 10 percent of the votes cast during this internal vote. However, the party leadership has not yet disclosed the date on which this crucial vote will take place.
It’s worth noting that the Democratic Party was formed by ardent supporters of Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, following their departure from the main ruling party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). In a bid to strengthen their chances in the presidential election, the Democrats have recently reached an agreement with both the Jumhooree Party (JP) and the Maldives National Party (MNP) to field a unified candidate for the upcoming polls.
The presidential election, scheduled for September 9, has already seen some prominent figures expressing their intentions to run for the highest office in the nation. Notably, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured the MDP primary election victory, positioning him as a key contender in the race. Meanwhile, former President Abdulla Yameen, who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering, remains in the running, pending the outcome of his appeal case.
In addition to Labeeb, other candidates who have secured their party tickets include Qasim Ibrahim, leader of the JP, and Mohamed Nazim, president of the MNP. Meanwhile, Umar Naseer, former Minister of Home Affairs, and Dr. Mohamed Munawar, former Attorney General, have also thrown their hats into the ring, hoping to garner support for their respective presidential bids.
