Spokesperson: President having no trouble working with the coalition

The President is having no trouble working alongside the coalition to run his administration, says the President’s Spokesperson Ibrahim Hood.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration is made up of three main political parties and political movements; Solih’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Vice President Faisal Naseem’s Jumhoory Party (JP), Adhaalath Party (AP), and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Maldives Reform Movement (MRM).

The general public witnessed frequent heated exchanges of words between leaders of some of these political parties, especially in the days leading up to the parliamentary elections in April.

Speaking during a press conference held by the President’s Office last Thursday, Spokesperson Hood brushed off concerns the coalition partners had fallen out.

He said that President Solih was facing no trouble working alongside his coalition partners.

“He is definitely facing no trouble working from within a coalition. His Cabinet has many ministers from the coalition,” said Hood.

President Solih’s 20-member Cabinet has eight MDP ministers, five JP ministers, four MRM ministers, and three AP ministers.

Hood said that working alongside ministers with varying political leanings and opinions was not a challenge to the President.

“The President has no trouble working with them,” repeated Hood.

President Solih, upon assuming power in the presidential elections of 2018, promised to hold monthly meetings with the leaders of MDP, JP, MRM and AP to discuss affairs of the State. Only two such meetings took place, and the leaders of the political parties have not convened since the parliamentary elections.

Hood said he couldn’t say why the coalition partners have not convened for meetings.

“Maybe they are on a tight schedule. I can’t say why exactly,” he said.