The incumbent president and candidate of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-led coalition, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has warned his opponents that they would need five weeks to catch up to where he is in the presidential race; by that time, he believes he will have been re-elected.
Speaking to supporters at Gan in Laamu Atoll, a traditionally highly competitive region, President Solih joked, “By the time they fully launch their campaign, the results will be out, and they’ll have to campaign for the 2028 elections.”
He said he’s on a very “cool” campaign trail and urged supporters not to engage in the heated verbal attacks and anti-campaign tactics of his opponents.
The latest opinion polls by local think tanks place President Solih ahead of his opponents by a considerable margin. The candidate polling closest to him is his predecessor, former President Abdulla Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate, Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
With the elections less than two weeks away, both factions have ramped up their campaigns, targeting each other’s supporters. This period has also seen harsh criticism from candidates and political opportunists seeking to increase their relevance as the elections approach.