With 8 candidates, stage set for most competitive pres election
EC confirmed that nine candidates belonging to different parties and ideologies have filed their nomination papers for the 2023 Presidential Elections.
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This year's election will be the largest contest for the presidency since the introduction of the multi-party system in Maldives in 2008.
In 2008, six candidates contested the most competitive election in Maldives. They were:
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1-
Gasim Ibrahim
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2-
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
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3-
Dr Hassan Saeed
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4-
Mohamed Nasheed
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5-
Ibrahim Ismail
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6-
Umar Naseer
The Elections Commission (EC) confirmed that nine candidates belonging to different parties and ideologies have filed their nomination papers to contest the 2023 election, as the nominations for the September 9 polls closed at 2pm Monday. Among them:
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EC rejected opposition PPM-PNC leader Abdulla Yameen's candidacy due to his 11-year jail sentence and an unpaid fine of USD 5 million; the Supreme Court upheld the decision
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The EC has accepted the candidacies of five candidates from political parties
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The three independent candidates who have collected 1,500 signatures are being considered for acceptance
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (MDP)
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is one of the longest-serving political leaders in the Maldives. He was an active member of the parliament until he reached the presidency in the 2018 presidential election, after he won the parliament’s Lh. constituency seat in the 1994 parliamentary elections.
The country’s largest political party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is contesting the election in the hope of winning a second term in office. In the party primary in January, President Solih won the presidential ticket with 61.10% of the vote.
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Running mate is MDP Parliamentary Group Leader, Hithadhoo North MP Mohammed Aslam
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President Solih has entered the presidential race in coalition with the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Adhaalath Party
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President Solih has launched his presidential campaign by slogan 'Ufaaveri Amaan Raajje', meaning a joyous and safe Maldives.
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One of the top priorities of the president is the development of all islands without discrimination; he has implemented multiple projects in many islands during his ongoing first term
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The president says he is running for a second term to continue the work done in the first term and fulfil all the pledges made
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The MDP will announce its policies in the next two weeks starting Monday evening
Dr Mohamed Muizz (PNC)
Mayor of capital Male, Dr Mohamed Muizz entered the presidential race after the Supreme Court upheld the EC's decision not to accept the candidacy of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) president Abdulla Yameen.
Muizz, who was also the vice-president of the PPM, left the PPM and signed up to its affiliate, People's National Congress (PNC) to contest for the ticket, to act as a backup candidate in case the largest opposition party is unable to contest. Muizz won the ticket against PNC Vice President Adam Shareef Umar in a secret ballot held by the PNC Consultative Assembly.
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Running mate is Fares-Maathodaa MP Hussain Mohammed Latheef
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Muizz was the Minister of Housing in the government of former President Yameen, who implemented the largest development projects in Maldives
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Before signing up for the PPM, he was in the Adhaalath Party and the MDA
Gasim Ibrahim (JP)
Gasim Ibrahim, a resident of A.Dh Maamigili, started his own business after serving several governmental jobs and entered the tourism sector through the oil business and through the sale of imported goods.
So far, Gasim has not achieved his dream of winning the presidential election and becoming the country's leader. This is his third presidential election attempt to make that dream a reality.
Key Points:
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Running mate is former Transport Minister Dr. Ameen Ibrahim
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He is contesting from the country's third largest party, the JP
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Has promised not to put business interests first after coming to power
Ilyas Labeeb (The Democrats)
Ilyas Labeeb, who was born in Hulhudhoo, Addu, was elected in the first parliamentary elections under the new constitution held in 2009.
He was an active member of the MDP and one of the bright young faces of the MDP. The MDP split into The Democrats after differences of opinion among the party members. Ilyas, who is running for the presidency from The Democrats, is also the youngest candidate this year.
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Running mate is former STO Managing Director Hussain Amr
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Ilyas has launched his presidential campaign and is traveling to different provinces with The Democrats policies
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So far, Democrats have announced four policies, focused on: decentralszation; parliamentary; business; and drug rehabilitation
Mohammed Nazim (MNP)
He joined the army at the age of 18 and served for 24 years. He entered politics after the February 7 2012, riots while acting as the Defense Minister of the Dr. Mohammed Waheed government. He was the first Defense Minister of Yameen's government too.
Nazim, who was arrested and jailed for possession of a pistol during the Yameen regime, is contesting this year's election on behalf of the Maldives National Party (MNP).
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Running mate is former Sharafuddin School Principal Dr. Ahmed Adheel Naseer
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Nazim has launched his presidential campaign and visited different provinces
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His policies include the death penalty for drug smugglers and changing the law to require local currency exchange for 60% of the dollars earned
Umar Naseer (Independent)
When the opportunity arose to form a political party in Maldives, Umar Naseer went out for it. He led the formation of the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) on 12 December, but the party was dissolved in 2013.
Umar contested the first presidential election held in 2008 under the new constitution. In the second round, all the other candidates followed MDP candidate Mohammed Nasheed.
Umar, who has always said that he will not break the principles he believes in and will not follow politicians, has contested the election as an independent candidate this time.
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Running mate is former Deputy Home Minister Maaz Salim
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The death penalty will be implemented under Umar's government, who believes in the implementation of Islamic Sharia in Maldives
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He said the top priorities would be curbing drugs, street killings, illegal immigrants and the presence of foreign troops in the country
Faris Maumoon (Independent)
Former Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon is the eldest son of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled Maldives for 30 years.
He is one of 12 MPs who lost their seats in parliament for working against the government during the former President Yameen's rule. He took the lead in fighting against the injustice during the Yameen regime. He was also in jail until the end of Yameen's rule.
The EC has been ordered to stay the dissolution of the MRM on the grounds of insufficient membership, in which case the party could face a problem in standing up for itself in the elections.
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Running mate is Dr Abdul Sattar Yusuf
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Faris said he’s come out to reform the country and would provide opportunities to everyone who loves the country and is capable
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A technical government free from political influence will be formed, he said
Hassan Zameel (Independent)
A former Deputy Defence Minister Hassan Zameel is a fairly new face who was not expected to contest the election. Hassan Zameel, who voluntarily retired from the Tourism Ministry after serving 19 years, said he has decided to contest the upcoming presidential election with the intention of saving the people from a grave wrongdoing.
Zameel’s running mate is his wife, Maryam Alim. The election agent is his son, Ahmed Mahran Zameel. He is the only candidate to have a woman as his running mate in this year's presidential election. This is the second time in the history of the country that a female running mate has come out.
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He said he was not seeking power for his own sake
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Will set the minimum wage between MVR 20,000-25,000, home-makers will be paid at home and the payment of zakat will be made mandatory by law, he said
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Two more areas of the country will be developed with facilities like the Male area
