President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated any coalition between the main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and the main opposition party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), would end the multi-party democracy established in the Maldives. He made the remarks in a press conference held at the President’s Office on August 11.
In response to a question on Speaker of Parliament and President of MDP Mohamed Nasheed expressing interest to form a coalition with PPM, Preisdent Solih MDP and PPM represent the two main political ideologies in the Maldives. He said a coalition between the two parties would merge all contrasting political ideologies and end the multi-party democracy established in the country. Therefore, he expressed belief the two parties would be better off working separately.
Speaker Nasheed recently expressed interest in working with PPM, after he announced he could no longer work with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the current government due to conflicting decisions. However, PPM has stated the party has no intention of working with MDP in a coalition, as the two parties hold very contrasting ideologies.