JP undecided on a second round

Jumhoory Party (JP) states the party will announce a decision regarding the second round of the presidential elections after discussions among the party’s council.

The party has remained mostly silent following their biggest-ever loss in a presidential election last Saturday.

In a statement released on Monday, the party extended gratitude to all who voted for the party’s presidential candidate and leader Qasim Ibrahim in the election, and engaged in the party’s campaign activities.

The party also vowed to remain steadfast in its efforts to reform the nation and the advancement and prosperity of the nation’s citizens.

“This party will remain steadfast in undertaking all efforts to ensure the security of this nation and its economic well-being,” the statement read.

They said the party’s decision regarding the presidential election’s second round will be announced at the earliest, after discussions among the party’s council.

JP’s statement came after Sun learned the jailed opposition leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, through a note, instructed the opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s leadership against holding coalition discussions with JP for the second round.

JP – a party of over 23,000 members, won just 5,460 votes in the presidential elections – which was two percent of total votes.

The results are dramatically lower than its performances in the last two presidential elections.

In 2008, JP won 27,057 votes – which was 15 percent of total votes. And in 2013, JP won 48,131 votes – which was 23 percent of total votes. Yameen, PPM’s presidential candidate, qualified for the runoff that year by beating JP by a slim margin.

JP had been the choicest partner for coalitions in runoffs in past elections. However, with its poor performance this election, most of the focus falls on the Democrats.

Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who contested the election on behalf of opposition coalition after Yameen was banned from running in the election due to his conviction, led the polls with 101,635 votes. Main ruling MDP’s candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came in second with 86,161 votes.