Gasim denies sovereign guarantee condition for coalition
He said that he had received only what all the courts had decided was due him after completing the judicial process.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim on Wednesday denied reports that he had asked the state to provide him a sovereign guarantee and a huge loan for his businesses in return of supporting president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the second time.
At the President's Office, the MP from Maamigili constituency called on President Solih on Wednesday. When asked by a reporter if he had negotiated with the government for a loan for his businesses by providing sovereign guarantees, he denied it.
"Nothing of that sort happened. I’ve never done that," he said when asked if he was trying to grow his business with political power.
"I won't. To take advantage of that kind of thing."
In addition to sovereign guarantees, Gasim responded to a question from a journalist that the current government had collected huge amounts of money in the form of compensation for his businesses. He reiterated that it was baseless.
He said that he had received only what all the courts had decided was due him after completing the judicial process.
Nothing of that sort happened. I’ve never done that. I won't. To take advantage of that kind of thing.
One of the coalition partners of the current government, Gasim, met with President Solih and the President had already invited all the participants to maintain the existing coalition. So far, only the Adhaalath Party has taken a decision on the invitation. The party has decided to stay with the president.
Gasim is yet to take a direct decision on contesting the upcoming presidential elections. At JP’s national conference held last weekend, the party had recommended to the council to contest the elections.
Criticising President Solih, saying the government's work was slow, Gasim made an indirect reference at JP's national conference.
Representatives of President Solih's current rival, MDP President and former close aide of the President, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, have met with Gasim. Since then, there has been a lot of praise for Nasheed and there have been rumours that Nasheed might become his running mate.
