Nasheed proposes 'Yameen and myself' to step back, field common candidate to defeat Solih
Nasheed's speech was very critical of the government and the policies of President Solih.
By
Ahmed Mizyal
Main opposition PPM-PNC's presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen and himself should step back and field a common candidate to defeat President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih in the upcoming presidential election, speaker Mohamed Nasheed who recently quit the ruling MDP and is working on registering a breakaway party said Wednesday.
Speaking at the founding rally of his The Democrats party, Nasheed said instead of contesting the September 9 election, both former president Yameen and himself should work together to defeat President Solih, who is seeking re-election after defeating Nasheed in the MDP's presidential primary in January.
Former president Nasheed extended the invitation to Yameen, whose candidacy is in doubts as he is serving an 11-year prison sentence for money laundering and bribery despite opposition assurances that he will contest the election
Nasheed's speech was very critical of the government and the policies of President Solih.
Nasheed said the opinion polls conducted so far have shown that many people remain undecided on the presidential election despite President Solih's repeated announcements that he will contest the presidential election.
"The polls are saying that most of the people are undecided. President Solih gets 15%. I get 6%. President Yameen gets 18%," he said, without elaborating on which opinion poll it was.
"The majority of the people of Maldives, 55% of the people, are undecided. President Solih knows that the people remain undecided despite his repeated declarations about a second term”.
Many people are undecided because they want to end this government instead of re-electing President Solih, Nasheed said.
“I think we should both not run in this presidential election. Instead, we should work hard together to achieve what the people of Maldives want [to end this government],” Nasheed, who is yet to formally join The Democrats, said.
“There is no doubt that I will join you."
The Democrats has started working with the PPM to defeat the government. The biggest difference of opinion between the two parties so far has been over the PPM coalition's India Out movement.
The Democrats have previously said they will not work with the PPM if the movement continues. The PPM says it will not stop the movement unless explicitly directed by Yameen.
