Solih, Gayoom meeting ends with no coalition deal

A meeting between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to discuss a coalition deal for the upcoming presidential election ended in no agreement, according to the President's Office.

President Solih met Gayoom at the President's Office Sunday morning following an invitation extended by the president to Gayoom's Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), which is part of the ruling coalition, to support the president for a second term. 

Following the meeting, presidential spokesperson Miuvan Mohamed told Atoll Times that the discussion was constructive, but no agreement was reached.

"President Solih and Maumoon agreed to form a committee comprising of representatives of both parties to further discuss the matter," he said. 

Gayoom was abroad when President Solih invited MRM, which has about 3,000 members, to form an alliance for a second term. The party had earlier said it had not taken a decision on the invitation as Gayoom was abroad.

Gayoom arrived in Male on Wednesday after spending two months abroad.

President Solih invited all the three parties in the existing ruling coalition, including MRM, to form an alliance. So far, only the Adhaalath Party, headed by home minister Imran Abdulla, has decided to form an alliance with the president.

Jumhooree Party, which is also in the existing ruling coalition, has decided to field its own candidate to the September 9 election.

In addition to Adhaalath, the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) led by Meedhoo MP Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed has decided to form an alliance with the president.