Waheed designates Thasmeen as running mate

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has announced Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali as his running mate for the upcoming presidential elections, today.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Trader’s Hotel this afternoon. Speaking at the ceremony, President Waheed said that Thasmeen Ali is a personality that does not require further introduction. They make up the strongest team that will compete in the September 7th presidential election, he said.

“The first thing that you might think is that these two men are very familiar. During the presidential election, the 2008 presidential election, we both stood as running mates for the most primary two candidates. We were behind most rival two leaders, that competed in a heavily divided political sphere. But reflecting on today’s circumstances, we have come to realize that we have relegate our own political beliefs and prioritize the interests of the nation,” President Waheed said.

Speaking at the ceremony, DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali asserted everybody to work as a cohesive force. Failure to do so might force the country to taste the same bitter days it did, following the 2008 presidential election, he said.

Thasmeen said that he accepted Waheed’s invitation to become his running mate “after getting the assurance that DRP will have a hundred percent involvement in the efforts ahead.”

“There is no question of Dr. Waheed’s qualifications or capability. He has proven his subtle resolve to the people within the past one an half or so years. We need the efforts of all talented, capable, qualified, experienced and well wishing people to push this country out of the whole that it is stuck in today,” Thasmeen said.

Adhaalath Party’s President Sheikh Imran Abdulla was notably absent from today’s ceremony, although the party’s member, Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutholib and Minister of State for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Didi was in attendance.