All except Pres Solih confirm pres debate participation

All but the candidate of the ruling MDP has confirmed their participation in the Public Service Media (PSM) presidential debate to be aired on September 1.

While this is a customary event before every presidential election, President Solih had avoided the previous one as well, back in 2018.

Those who have confirmed their participation in the debate include PPM/PNC’s Dr Mohamed Muizzu, The Democrats’ Ilyas Labeeb, JP’s Gasim Ibrahim and MNP’s Mohamed Nazim, as well as independent candidates, Faris Maumoon, Umar Naseer and Hassan Zameel.

MDP campaign spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi told reporters last week that the president will participate in the debate only if he had time after his campaign tours to the islands. 

The defence minister had said the priority for the president at the moment is to meet the people in the atolls on his campaign tours.

"The president is streaming his promises on TV. So he can say speak directly with you if he can find the time to meet with you after reaching out to the people through his programmes. Of course, he will give as much time as he has to these things," she said.

Meanwhile, Imthiyaz Fahumy, the election spokesperson of the party that split from the MDP and formed The Democrats, has criticised Mariya's remarks.

Imthiyaz said one of the most important things in a presidential election is to face the people and answer their questions through the debate.

Despit that, the President is now making excuses not to participate in the debate, Imthiyaz had said, at a press conference last week. 

"The government candidate is saying even now that he can participate, with an ‘only if’ preceding what has become an excuse now,” he said.