MP Thoriq invites JP and Nasheed's MDP faction to form an alliance

The prominent opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) lawmaker for Mahibadhoo constituency Ahmed Thoriq has invited Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members belonging to Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed's faction and Jumhooree Party (JP) members to form an alliance with the PPM.

While discussing the debt restructuring process in the parliament on Wednesday, MP Thoriq said MDP members who worked to elect President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018, believing he would be a capable candidate, have to apologise to the Maldivian citizens now.

He said that it is clear that President Solih does not know how to manage the country's economy and everyone has to work together to ensure they elect a candidate that is not President Solih this time.

"I am saddened that the supporters behind "Fikuregge Dhirun" were also behind electing such a person as president," MP Thoriq said. "I call on them to apologise to the people and to work towards another path; to work with PPM to find a another way besides [President Solih]."

He said that PPM had previously worked with JP in parliamentary elections; he added that MDP betrayed them last time around. He made this statement regarding the decision MDP made to not respect the coalition agreement, which said each party would have an allocated number of seats in the parliamentary election.

Therefore, he said, if an alliance is to be formed in the first round of the election, it should be with PPM, adding that the door was open to work with the main opposition party.

MP Thoriq also extended the invitation to the Maldives Democratic Alliance (MDA). He noted that MDA had a close relationship with former President Abdulla Yameen and that the two parties had previously worked together.

The Mahibadhoo MP went on to say that even though President Solih is working to form coalitions with the smaller political parties, the reality would be clear if he calculated his supporters.

President Solih has started talks and invited the JP, Adhaalath Party and Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) to form an alliance. Adhaalath Party has already announced that they will be backing Solih in this election.