President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Monday that his real opponent in the upcoming presidential election would be the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate and that The Democrats do not pose a challenge.
Speaking to reporters in Fulidhoo during his campaign trip to Vaavu atoll, the president said he would repeat his victory in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary if Speaker Mohamed Nasheed contests on behalf of The Democrats. He was asked by a journalist about the expected margin of victory if Nasheed contests.
"You would have seen the result of the party's internal primary. I believe that MDP and PPM will be the two rival parties in the upcoming presidential election as well. I don't see how that has changed," he said.
The Democrats was formed by the 'Fikurrege Dhirun' breakaway faction led by Speaker Nasheed after he lost the MDP's presidential primary.
\The new party has yet to decide its presidential candidate. But a journalist at the president's press conference claimed to have learned of Nasheed's intention to run.
"The contestants include president Nasheed, who was one of the closest people of the president in the past. If president Nasheed contests in this presidential election, how much would you finish ahead by? How much confidence does the president have that you could beat Nasheed?" the journalist asked.
In his reply, the president said, "You would have seen the result of the party's internal primary."
He also responded today to talk of an MDP split.
"No, no. Some people have always gone and left MDP, from the leadership. But MDP always remains, goes ahead with that ideology," the president said.
Some who left due to differences of opinion have returned as well, he said. The departure of any member is a loss but the party would go forward, he added.
"So are you saying that the MDP cannot be disbanded?" a journalist asked then.
"God willing, that cannot be done at all," the president replied.
Of the candidates who have announced their intention to contest in the September 9 presidential election, only President Solih has started campaigning in earnest so far.
Former president Abdulla Yameen, who was awarded the opposition PPM's ticket, is serving a jail sentence handed down by the Criminal Court.
The Jumhooree Party awarded its ticket to leader Qasim Ibrahim but he has not directly started campaigning.
The Maldives National Party has been conducting campaign activities somewhat and The Democrats have yet to decide on its candidate.
