JP authorises Gasim to decide on election

Jumhooree Party (JP) council on Monday granted its leader Gasim Ibrahim the power and authority to decide on fielding a candidate for the upcoming presidential election and to negotiate coalition deals. 

Gasim's advisor Ahmed Nihan tweeted the decision regarding the election at a meeting of the Jumhooree Party Council held on Monday. According to the resolution, the powers vested in Gasim are:

JP, at its national conference late last month, decided to recommend to the council that the party should field a candidate for the September 9 elections.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih invited Gasim to form an alliance with him in the election. 

The president's invitation was extended to other coalition partners in the government, but so far only Adhaalath Party has taken a decision on the invitation. Adhaalath decided to support President Solih.

Out of the three elections held since the promulgation of the new constitution, JP leader Gasim contested the presidential elections in 2008 and 2013. However, there were not enough votes in either of the two elections required to go to the second round.

The last time, in the 2018 presidential elections, Gasim could not contest due to a verdict on him at the time.

However, in the previous three elections, each ruler managed to win by forging an alliance with JP.