Political parties have commenced preparations for the 2023 presidential election.
Some parties have announced their candidates while other parties plan to choose their candidates through an internal election. The right to vote in the presidential election is the most important right given to citizens under the multi-party system.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has not yet announced its candidate. However, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed interest in vying for a second term with the main ruling party’s ticket. President Solih is notable for successfully continuing his presidency under a coalition, which is considered necessary to gain enough support to win the next election. Many senior politicians and popular political leaders are currently in support of President Solih, leading many to believe he is the best choice for MDP’s candidate. While President Solih is nearing the end of his five-year term, he has steering the country through hardship without controversy or political upheaval.
Speaker of Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed has also announced his intention to contest in MDP’s primary for the presidential election. MDP members have said that the party’s candidate will be decided at the MDP congress scheduled for August 21.
Meanwhile, the opposition coalition consisting of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) have decided to award their ticket to former President Abdulla Yameen. PPM’s regulations dictate that a candidate be chosen through a primary election. However, the main opposition party changed its rules to award its ticket to former President Yameen without a primary election. PPM was the first party to formally announce its candidate for next year’s elections. This came at a time when several members of PPM had expressed interest in contesting for presidency next year.
Furthermore, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has announced that its ticket for the 2023 presidential election has been awarded to party leader Abdulla Jabir, while Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has chosen its party leader Ahmed Siyam Mohamed as its candidate for next year's election.
Meanwhile, government coalition partner Jumhooree Party (JP) stated that its regulations dictate that its ticket be awarded to the party leader but that it will make a decision on whether to hold a primary election at the party congress, which would be held later this year or early next year. Coalition partner Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) has stated that it will announce its plans for the 2023 presidential election after an executive-level meeting.
Additionally, Maldives National Party (MNP) will award its ticket to the winner of its primary election. Interim President of MNP Mohamed Nazim has announced that he will be running in the primary election.