Qasim to be presented with JP's presidential ticket on June 1

Jumhoory Party (JP) is set to officially present its presidential ticket to the party’s leader Qasim Ibrahim and launch its 2023 presidential election campaign on June 1.

An official from JP confirmed the decision was made during a committee meeting Monday.

JP’s council had endorsed Qasim as the party’s presidential candidate with a unanimous vote.

He had confirmed the party’s presidential ticket after running unopposed on March 30.

Qasim had also been the party’s presidential candidate in 2008 and 2013. He won 15 percent of votes in 2008, and 24 percent of votes in 2013 – not enough to qualify for a second round. However, a now-overturned conviction rendered him ineligible for the 2018 election. JP joined a coalition with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which went on to win the election.

However, JP rejected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s invitation to back his re-election campaign and decided to contest the election independently.