MDP says still in first round coalition talks with parties
"We are talking to the other parties at various levels. I think some of them will now believe that they have no hope of winning the election”, Solih said.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that he is trying to forge an alliance in the first round with the parties contesting the presidential election, except for the opposition PPM-PNC coalition. In addition to the president, his campaign spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi also noted this and spoke further on the issue on Thursday.
President said he is in talks with other parties during an interview he gave to the media after concluding his campaign tours in the Laamu and Thaa atolls on last Tuesday.
"We are [talking] with various parties at different levels, already contesting [elections]. Then with PPM we will not have that kind of political relationship. We are in two completely different mindsets. We should be on both sides. That will benefit the country the most too,” he said.
"We are talking to the other parties at various levels. I think some of them will now believe that they have no hope of winning the election”.
The president said in the interview that he is now clear about the distribution of votes in rural areas as the election is just a short time away and he asked candidates who will not go for a second round and who wish the country well to follow him now. It is, he said, an important decision for the future of the people.
"There is still time for them to make a decision. There's talks still, I think they should think about it," he said.
However, the president did not say with whom he was in talks with.
Home Minister Imran Abdullah's Adhaalath Party and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed’s MDA have formed a second coalition with President Solih.
Neither the president’s campaign office nor the parties have yet announced which cabinet positions and percentage of the government the MDP has agreed with the two parties.
The campaign spokesperson and defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi did not disclose any details when questioned by Atoll Times at a press conference held at the president's campaign office on Thursday.
“If the parties should disclose it, they will disclose it,” she said.
Referring to the president's statement that he is still in talks with other parties, she said there would be a possibility of changes to the agreements based on the talks.
"The President said that he is already in talks with other parties at various levels in the first round," she said, adding that he would announce the agreements after the talks.
Instead of giving a direct detailed answer to the question about the agreement with the existing coalition partners, Mariya asked the journalists to ask questions to rival PPM-PNC candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz about his PPM-PNC coalition.
"Where is their coalition? Have you asked them? How many ministries will be given to the PPM? Where will [former] President [Abdullah] Yameen be handed over? This is also a good question to ask," she said.
When asked repeatedly, she said they have “various understandings” with the Adhaalath Party and the MDA. However, she declined to disclose them.
