Ex-AG contesting pres polls denies Nasheed's agent rumours
He also said that he would not withdraw his nomination for money.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Former Attorney General Dr Mohamed Munawwar said on Sunday that he is not contesting the upcoming presidential elections as a running mate or "agent" of former president Mohamed Nasheed, but it was the situation in the country that forced him to enter the presidential race.
Munawwar had announced on March 5 that he would be contesting the upcoming elections. For this, his campaign centre has also been set up in the city.
Before entering the presidential race, Munawwar was seen travelling with Nasheed to Addu during the party's primary campaign. When Munawwar announced his subsequent election, some accused it of the intention to split the party's votes since Nasheed had lost the primary to President Solih.
When asked about it by Atoll Times at a press conference, Munawwar said he had told Nasheed in the middle of last year that he was considering running for power. He, however, said he had not held any such discussion with Nasheed since then.
Munawwar said:
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The decision to contest the elections was not taken on anyone's request
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This has not been discussed with any any political party leader, including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih or Nasheed
"So I am not anyone's agent. I don't want to be anyone's running mate. I don't want to find anything else from anyone, nor to withdraw nominations if offered money," Munawwar said.
The main reason for his entry into the presidential race, he said, was "compulsion" given the state of affairs in the country.
The reasons he outlined include:
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The curtailment of the power of the law
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Not enforcing the law
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Lack of foreign and domestic freedom
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The social fabric has been destroyed and wiped out
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Economic challenges, huge debts are being put on the heads of the people
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The state's useless expenditure is on the rise
"The situation in today's country is forcing people to contest elections. So we are forcing the people of the country to take action," Munawwar said.
Nasheed's visit to Addu is a coincidence
Asked about his visit to Addu with Nasheed during the party's presidential primaries campaign, he said it was not a "campaign tour" but a "coincidence".
He had accompanied Nasheed and his campaign team to tea during the visit, he said, adding that he had joined them at nasheed's invitation. All of this, he said, was a coincidence.
"I don't want to accompany Nasheed to campaign as a member of Nasheed's campaign team. However, Nasheed travelled by the same boat as I did. It was a coincidnce," Munawwar said.
He said he would not make a deal with anyone other than God. He also said that he would not withdraw his nomination for money.
Munawwar, a former president of MDP, served as the Attorney General of Maldives from 1993 to 2003 under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Munawwar lost to Nasheed in the party's primary in the first presidential election held in 2008 under the new constitution.
In addition to Munawwar, the following has so far announced that they will contest the September presidential election:
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President Solih, who won the party's presidential ticket
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MNP leader Mohamed Nazim
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Former home minister Umar Naseer
