Former AG Dr. Munavvaru withdraws from elections

Former Attorney General Dr. Mohamed Munavvaru has withdrawn his candidacy from the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for September 9.

Dr. Munavvaru had announced his intention to contest the elections in March 2023. Following his announcement, he engaged in campaign activities and established a campaign hub as part of his efforts.

Speaking with Mihaaru News, Dr. Munavvaru said that his initial decision to contest the elections was based on his confidence in implementing policies of democratic reform. However, he now believes that the current political landscape does not provide the necessary conditions to achieve this.

"This is not a game; we are very serious about our policies to deliver solutions for the people, but we lack the environment to communicate these policies to the public," Dr. Munavvaru said.

He further added that the presidential candidates running for office this year do not display seriousness; instead, they seem to be treating the election as a game.

"Selecting a running mate is approached in a similar manner [as a game], there seems to be a lack of consideration for whether such an individual is capable of leading a government," the former Attorney General said.

Dr. Munavvaru was a prominent critic of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea's (ITLOS) ruling on the Maldives-Mauritius boundary demarcation case. While he engaged in active political activities during the trial, he remained absent from the local political arena after the conclusion of the case.

Dr. Munavvaru served as the Attorney General during the presidency of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, holding the position for a duration of 10 years.

After his extensive tenure, Dr. Munavvaru participated in the primary elections of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in 2008. Although he competed for the party's presidential position, he faced defeat and after which he voiced criticism against the MDP before resigning from the party.

Following this, he joined Qasim Ibrahim's Jumhooree Party (JP) and later established the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM). However, the MRM was dissolved by the Elections Commission (EC) due to legal ineligibility.