President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is seeking a second term with his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-led coalition with the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Adhalath Party (AP), has cautioned his supporters against taking the re-election efforts too lightly.
Addressing his supporters in Hithaadhoo of Baa Atoll, President Solih emphasised that even though a substantial coalition force aiming to unseat the incumbent, as witnessed in previous elections, might not be evident, every supporter should still exercise their right to vote to secure a resounding victory.
Reflecting on the scenes he encountered during his campaign trail, President Solih noted the absence of a unified vigour for governmental change that had gained considerable momentum in earlier instances. Instead, he observed sporadic protests here and there.
“Of course, it’s impossible to secure 100% support from everyone. Some may harbour feelings of discontent. However, I have not witnessed a large-scale opposition movement as in the past,” he remarked.
President Solih had previously indicated that other candidates are independently vying for the presidency, signifying their personal ambitions for the highest office. He interpreted this scenario as a testament to the mature state of Maldivian democracy and expressed appreciation to political parties for their contributions to this progress.
The 2023 presidential elections are witnessing an unprecedented number of contenders. The previous record of six candidates participating in the 2008 election has been exceeded.
The candidates represent political parties including the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), People’s National Congress (PNC)-Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhooree Party (JP), The Democrats, and the Maldives National Party (MNP). Additionally, three independent candidates—former Home Minister Umar Naseer, Ahmed Faris Maumoon, and former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Defence Hassan Zameel—are also competing in the election.