Maumoon backs 32 candidates for parliamentary elections

Former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, one of the four government coalition leaders, has finalized the names of 32 candidates he will be endorsing for the Parliamentary Elections 2019.

108 candidates had applied to run for the upcoming elections with the endorsement of Maumoon, out of whom 32 have been selected.

Abdul Aleem from Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM) reports the names of 32 candidates have now been selected, but said the number may increase.

He said the names and districts of more candidates selected will be announced later this Sunday

“We are currently informing the 32 candidates who have won the endorsement of President Maumoon. The exact figure will be announced tonight,” said Aleem.

Aleem said the candidates endorsed by Maumoon will be contending in the elections as independent candidates.

He said that none of Maumoon’s candidates will be contending for the districts of the 12 lawmakers who were disqualified and later reinstated to their seats.

Aleem said the 12 lawmakers had the endorsement of Maumoon for re-election to their seats.

Main government party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has issued its ticket to 86 candidates, while Jumhoory Party (JP) has issued tickets to 36 candidates and Adhaalath Party (AP) has announced it will have 13 candidates.

MDP, JP, AP and Maumoon originally had an understanding to contest for the presidential election, and upcoming parliamentary elections and local council elections together.

But the coalition partners failed to reach an agreement on distribution of electoral districts, and decided to contend in the parliamentary elections individually.

Meanwhile, the opposition coalition, made up of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) has so far issued tickets to 63 candidates.

The deadline for candidacy is February 21. And the parliamentary elections will be held on April 6.