Jumhooree Party (JP) has decided to field a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
Members of the JP council unanimously voted to field a candidate as the leader of its own coalition. The party regulations dictate that party leader Qasim Ibrahim should be chosen as the candidate without holding a primary election. The decision was made at a time the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had invited JP to form a coalition once again for the presidential election. JP is a key partner in the current government. So far, MDP has secured the support of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Adhaalath Party (AP).
The presidential election will be held on September 9 and the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) will be accepting candidacies until the end of July 23. Individuals who have announced their intention to run in the election include President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who won the MDP primary election, and the candidate of the main opposition coalition former President Abdulla Yameen, who is serving a five-year prison sentence over corruption and money laundering.
Additionally, President of Maldives National Party (MNP) Mohamed Nazim has received the party ticket uncontested while former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer, and former Attorney General Dr. Mohamed Munawar have announced their intentions to run in the election.