Henveiru South MP Hussain Shaheem has accused Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed of trying to bring Jumhooree Party (JP)'s candidate to power in this year's presidential election.
Nasheed did not deny the allegation by MP Hussain, who leads the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s presidential candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's faction within the party.
During today's parliamentary debate, MP Hussain said that it was wrong for Nasheed to campaign for another party without supporting MDP's presidential candidate while he is the party's president. He mentioned that Nasheed was seen on the front row of the JP National Conference held over the weekend.
Instead of denying MP Hussain's allegations, Nasheed said the MDP had a 40 percent stake in the current coalition government. It is a positive thing for MDP to obtain a larger percentage, Nasheed said.
Nasheed attended the opening and closing ceremonies of the JP Conference, and JP leader Qasim Ibrahim had praised Nasheed and some other former presidents, speaking in admiration of their administrations. Qasim, however, did not mention the MDP's presidential candidate, President Solih, nor did he speak about the current coalition, which the JP is a part of.
When this was pointed out by JP and MDP members, Qasim, at the closing ceremony of the conference, assured that he did not harbour any ill will towards President Solih.
Meanwhile, President Solih has so far invited JP, Adhaalath Party, Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) to form a coalition to contest in the first round of the presidential election.
Last week, two representatives of the incumbent President met with Qasim personally at his Sun Island Resort to discuss the coalition; Nasheed's delegates also went to meet with Qasim at the resort.
However, the JP's National Conference recommended that the party nominate a candidate for the presidential election or form a coalition led by the party. Qasim said he would submit the matter to the party's council for the final say.
JP's new council, elected at its fourth conference, has a majority that is against the incumbent government; therefore, it is likely that the resolution passed by the congress would not decide on an outcome that is favourable to President Solih.
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