Faris competent for running mate, Gasim says

Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) president Faris Maumoon is capable of becoming a running mate, said Gasim Ibrahim, who is likely to be the candidate of Jumhooree Party (JP) which has decided to contest the upcoming presidential election independently. 

He met MRM’s founder, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and party president and Maumoon's son Faris regarding the presidential election. Responding to a question from Atoll Times after their meeting held at H. Fulidhooge, where Maumoon Foundation's office is located, Gasim spoke about the possibility of appointing Faris as the running mate.

"It is possible. Why wouldn’t it be? These are all possible things. Why not? I have said this because he is a competent, educated person," he said, who is expected to become JP’s presidential candidate.

Gasim, who is also the MP from Mamigili constituency, said it was not his personal decision to appoint Faris as running mate and the decision would be taken by JP's council.

When asked if MRM had submitted a proposal in Monday’s meeting to form an alliance with JP and appoint Faris as the running mate of JP candidate, Faris said talks are yet to reach the point where any proposal should be made.  The whole discussion, he said, was about how to shape the country's future.

"We are going to act as decided by the party. We don't know if it's going to be difficult for us to go to such a point. As the party's founder [Maumoon] has said, there is a possibility of anything happening," Faris said.

Faris added:

Before arriving for the meeting, Faris had said that if the way to reform the country was for him to run for power, he would do the same. Ahead of the meeting, Maumoon said that MRM has the potential to work with the opposition PPM as well.