An election can only be won by one person: Gayoom

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that one person will be successful and another unsuccessful in every election, and that the supreme test of democracy is the ability to remain united after an election.

Gayoom addressed members of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) via DhiTV tonight and said that the party’s Primary is likely to be very competitive and that this is typical in a democracy.

“Our Presidential Primary is likely to be very competitive. That’s how it is supposed to be in a democracy. In this rivalry we see some things that we do not want to see, but all in all I believe the election is, and will be, positive. One person will win and another person will lose every election,” Gayoom said.

Gayoom assured the members of PPM that he would work with the Primary Election winner in the efforts to win the Presidential Election, and urged both candidates and their supporters to join hands with him to work towards this with sincerity and steadfastness.

Gayoom said that both candidates competing in the PPM Primary are senior, sincere members of the party who continue to provide great services to the party. He urged both candidates and their supporters to refrain from activities that can interfere with the solidarity that exists in PPM.

PPM Presidential Primary has been scheduled for Saturday.

Gayoom said that this election would be the most fair, transparent and democratic election conducted by a political party in the Maldives.