MRM officials vent out against Solih, Gasim amid coalition talks

Top officials of the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), which is yet to take a decision on this year's presidential election despite being part of the ruling coalition, have expressed dissatisfaction with the party's ongoing discussions with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim regarding the elections.

Leaked screenshots of a WhatsApp group called 'Political Appointments MRM' show comments made by party officials holding political positions in the government.

In their messages, they debated how MRM should behave in this year's election and which candidate to stand with. In particular, the party has been critical of incumbent President Solih, who works in an alliance, and JP, which is also negotiating the elections.

While some criticised President Solih and called him out for doing things that benefit the party rather than maintaining the coalition for a second term, others came out in his defence.

"Jobs are not positions given by the President [Solih] out of goodwill. [MRM's founder and former] President Maumoon [Abdul Gayoom] and MRM leadership sent our names to give us jobs for the party slots. We got the posts through hard work we put in," said Fathimath Shaheeda, deputy minister for environment, science and technology.

"Tomorrow, you will still be octopus," Shaheeda said, urging the people to work for the betterment of their own party over anything else.

Noting that what happened during the five years in the coalition was "not particularly good", Senior Policy Director at the Home Ministry Nishana Hassan also came out in support of Shaheeda.

"The party leadership is trying to negotiate and decide what is best for MRM. Did the president [Solih] not ignore MRM when we wanted to hold talks with the government all these days?," Nishana asked in the group.

Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC) Managing Director Mohamed Raaidh defended the President, saying that people have been speaking ill of his policies within MRM while  sitting  in jpbs provided by the president.

"'A political position is 'appointed' under Article 116 [of the Constitution] to defend the president's policies and assist him. It's not something you get by making an announcement, responding to an ad and applying," he wrote.

"If president Solih's policies are not up to the mark, then the most beautiful and most respectful way is to resign gracefully. But it's sad that they dont dare even do that, and now they’re running around in political positions in the government. It's sad."

Instead of continuing its existing alliance with President Solih, JP has decided to contest the September 9 presidential election separately and announced that the party's presidential candidate will be party leader Gasim.

Maumoon and his son, MMRM president Faris Maumoon, had earlier met With Gasim and he had invited MRM to form an alliance with him. The MRM has accepted the invitation and decided to hold talks.

In the group chat with MRM, some said they would support the decision if they formed an alliance with JP. They said that no matter what Faris decides, it will be the right decision.

However, some even spoke out against going ahead with JP.

"[MDP] President [Mohamed] Nasheed is now at the 'lowest point' of his political career. Supporting the JP/Nasheed coalition to take nasheed's political career to another level is not acceptable in any way," said Mohamed Faisal, deputy ambassador of Maldives to the UAE.

Faisal also speculated on what he believed would happen if Gasim/Nasheed coalition came to power.

"MDP will break the coalition [with Gasim] as soon as Nasheed gets his party back. He will take the party out on the streets to topple Gasim’s government. The entire country will be thrown into chaos," he said.

"President Solih is a friend [of Nasheed], a family member and a member of his own party. He could not let president Solih rule. [Nasheed] won't wait a month to watch Gasim rule."

Echoing Faisal's claim, Raaidh also questioned backing JP. He asked if the party had forgiven those that had “shoved several MRM members into small cells in prison, robbing them of the worship on the night of the blessed fasting month and eating cake in Aarah”.

"Have we formed a political party and written and implemented policies and found JP to be the one to hold discussions with the top people for those who want to come out as the perfect political party?" asked Raed.

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom celebrated the arrest of the high profile people like Maumoon and Faris. Some of the senior members of the party's parliamentary group at the time are now leading JP’s campaign.

President Solih has also invited the party to form a second term with MDP. Following the invitation, Maumoon held a consultative meeting with President Solih.

Gasim had met Maumoon and Faris before formally inviting MRM join JP. Following the meeting, Gasim gave a green signal that Faris could become his running mate.