President Solih will secure over 56 percent of votes: Fayyaz

Minister of Economic Development and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will secure his second term with over 56 percent of votes.

At the MDP rally held in Malé City on Friday evening, September 1, the minister said he was responsible for maintaining all campaign-related data which points to President Solih securing a landslide victory in the elections.

“I am responsible for maintaining that data, and with certainty I can assure president Solih will not secure less than 56 percent of the votes,” Fayyaz said.

"Each passing day will only add to that 56 percent, which we have no doubt about. We are confident of achieving a landslide victory in the September 9 elections".

The minister was also optimistic of securing majority votes from Addu City and Fuvahmulah City, two of the most populous areas of Maldives.

During the rally, minister Fayyaz directed verbal attacks at his former allies who had left the MDP to form The Democrats. He alleged that the dissidents had established their party with the intention of reinstating unjust governance.

“Just because you could not assume presidency, or you could not get the desired position within the government, it does not mean that you have to make the public suffer for it,” Fayyaz criticized Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed led The Democrats.

The minister claimed The Democrats’ candidate Ilyas Labeeb will be securing fourth position in the elections and added “I urge the members of The Democrats not to waste their votes and join us to increase our winning ratio of over 60-percentile.”

Fayyaz also criticized Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He advised against voting the coalition’s candidate if the Maldivian community does not wish to regress, or to ensure women and girls had social freedom.

The minister said Maldives experienced a peaceful and tranquil society for the past five years, and said that the government prioritized social freedom for everyone.