PPM, Democrats contesting separately in first round

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and The Democrats on Sunday announced that they would be contesting individually in the first round of the upcoming Presidential Elections.

The Progressive Coalition and the Democrats have been working together under an alliance formed to remove President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from power.

Discussions were held on Sunday between both parties, and a press conference was held afterwards, during which the Vice President of People’s National Congress (PNC) Ibrahim Shujau said that neither have discussed about bridging forth a common candiate.

“We are coming with a separate agenda. As such, the topic of a common candidate has not been raised at the table yet. But if that situation arises, we will do that as well,” said Shujau.

Adding to that, representative from The Democrats Hussain Amru said that although political parties come with different ideologies, those can be put to a side in order to move forward on common grounds.

“If its a political party there will be separate ideologies. There are certain policies. That does not mean we cannot come to a platform where we are able to work together,” added Amru.

In addition to this, he said that they were working to crate joint committees that would expose things pertaining to major social and economic things that the people need to be aware of.

“Ocean Weekly” – a publication former President Mohamed Nasheed has shares in published a writing last week, that stated it was unlikely for both Nasheed and former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom to contest in the upcoming elections.

While numerous questions were asked about this matter, neither provided any clear answers.