The Chief of Staff at the President's Office Ali Zahir has stated that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will easily win re-election.
In a tweet, Chief of Staff Zahir said the coalition consisting of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP), and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) will easily win the upcoming presidential election under the leadership of President Solih. He made the remark following the decision of the Jumhooree Party (JP), a member of the ruling government coalition, to field its own candidate after MDP invited the party to form a coalition once again for the election. Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) is the only member that has not yet made a decision on re-joining the government coalition.
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.