Adhaalath says alliance contingent on meeting conditions

Home minister Imran Abdulla has said that the coalition based on the current government is successful, but his Adhaalath Party will only be able to continue the alliance with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for another term if the party's proposals are agreed to.

Following the invitation extended to the government's coalition partners to win the presidential election in a single round for President Solih, who is seeking a second term in office, the Adhaalath Party in its consultative meeting held on Monday night decided to go ahead with the talks with MDP to form a coalition.

Speaking to Atoll Times after the meeting, Imran said that President Solih in his letter to the party noted that the Adhaalath Party has done a good job in the last four years as a coalition partner. Therefore, he has made it clear in the letter that he plans to form an alliance with Adhaalath in the upcoming presidential elections as well," he said.  

"The decision was taken by majority in the discussion meeting, if we can respond to the president's proposal and take a committee from among us and discuss our proposals with the president [and] if we can agree, then we should negotiate with the president to move forward with an alliance," Imran said.

When asked what proposals he would make, he did not give a direct reply, saying priority would be given to those that would achieve the party's goals by protecting Islam and the country's higher interests.

"We will have our proposals to reach the strategic goals that the party is embarking on today. These negotiations will be expanded with the president's team if desired," Imran said.

While there has been some complacency within the current government's coalition for the past four years, Imran believes that his talks with the president will focus on further strengthening the coalition for the next term.

"In my heart, as a coalition partner in the current presidential term, even if everyone does not get what they want exactly, holding on to a coalition for four years or five years shows that, given its nature, a coalition can function in the country," Imran said.

"So, I believe that our discussions can be structured in such a way that we can move forward with more vigour in the next term."

In the 2008 and 2013 presidential elections held in the Maldives, Adhaalath was behind businessman and Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim. 

Responding to a question on the possibility of forming an alliance with Jumhooree Party (JP) in this year's presidential election, Imran said, "Adhaalath is yet to receive an invitation from Gasim. So far, only President Solih has asked for talks to form an alliance with the party, he said.

"That's why we have decided to hold a consultation with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It's not the right way for me to talk about the things that follow the discussion now," Imran said.

When repeatedly asked the same question again, he said the answer would come after discussions with President Solih.

He is yet to take a decision on the presidential election. President Solih is also seeking the support of Gasim, and the decision regarding the election will be taken by the party's new council to be elected at the party's national meeting on February 24 - 25.