Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential candidate and incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has signaled his intent to explore coalition possibilities ahead of the second round of the presidential election. In an exclusive interview with Raajje TV’s ‘Fashaa-iru,’ President Solih revealed that discussions were underway with several political parties, with “two to three” parties having already given their tacit approval for a coalition.
President Solih expressed confidence in his prospects for the second round, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and rectifying the shortcomings of the initial round to secure a victory. While refraining from disclosing specific party names, he acknowledged that behind-the-scenes negotiations were ongoing.
“There have been some talks with some parties that did not progress to the second round yesterday. There are some parties that have given the green signal to collaborate with us. However, they have not yet officially announced their stance,” President Solih explained.
In Saturday’s election, eight candidates vied for the presidency, but only the representatives of three political parties failed to make it to the runoff:
- Jumhoory Party (JP)
- The Democrats
- Maldives National Party (MNP)
Regarding the reasons behind the opposition’s performance, with the PPM-PNC coalition leading in the initial polls, President Solih attributed their success to the spread of falsehoods during the campaign. He vowed to counter these narratives and address allegations related to the sale of sea areas and the presence of foreign troops in the Maldives.
Among other challenges that contributed to the first-round outcome, the President cited administrative lapses. He highlighted that numerous constituencies where voters were expected to participate did not witness the expected turnout.
As the campaign for the second round heats up, the nation is poised for an intensified political battle where candidates and parties will endeavor to sway voters in their favor by addressing these issues and more.
