The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has opened the opportunity for members to submit their candidacy for the primary election to be held on January 28.
Interested members are required to submit their candidacy with signatures of 500 supporters by December 24. MDP will publish the final list of candidates on December 26 and the voters’ list on December 28. After which, members can submit complaints related to the voters’ list by December 31 and the final voters’ list will be published on January 3. MDP will be accepting applications for the candidates’ representatives from January 10-15 before holding the primary election on January 28.
Some members have already expressed interest in running in the 2023 presidential election with the party’s ticket, including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. At the MDP congress, President Solih called on all members to focus their efforts on the upcoming presidential election in order to guarantee the party’s victory.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament and President of MDP Mohamed Nasheed has announced his candidacy for the primary election. The party regulations allow candidates a one-month period to campaigning.
The main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has awarded its ticket to former President Abdulla Yameen and Maldives National Party (MNP) has awarded its ticket to its President Mohamed Nazim.