The Jumhooree Party (JP) on Saturday decided not to endorse either candidate for the second round of the presidential election on September 30.
The JP's decision came at a council meeting after talks with both candidates who advanced to the second round. JP leader Qasim Ibrahim also participated in the council meeting.
Some 68 members voted against backing either of the two candidates.
"[It was because of] everything we said during our campaign to gain support for us and the documents that we can see," Qasim said about the reasons for the decision.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition was the first to enter coalition talks with the JP. A team led by running mate Hussain Mohamed Latheef, MP for Faresmaathoda, met with Qasim on September 12.
On the following day, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih went to Sun Island to meet Qasim. The president spent two days at the resort. He was accompanied by running mate Mohamed Aslam.
PNC presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of the election with 101,581 votes as President Solih trailed with 86,164 votes. Qasim received 5,460 votes (2.47 percent).
The Democrats, whose candidate finished third, has yet to decide on endorsing a candidate. The party said on Friday night that talks with the PPM-PNC have stalled but negotiations are ongoing with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The proposal made to both sides was holding a referendum on changing the system of government, Democrats interim chairman Hassan Latheef said at a media briefing.
