Qasim expresses ‘high hopes’ of partnering with Nazim

Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim states he met with the Maldives National Party (MNP)’s leader Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim to discuss working together for the upcoming presidential election and other elections to follow, and that he has “high hopes” of reaching a partnership deal between the two parties.

Nazim, who left JP to form his own party – MNP – and Qasim met for talks at the Villa Park Resort Maldives (formerly called Sun Island) on Tuesday.

Both Nazim and Qasim are their party’s candidates for the presidential election slated for September 9.

After the meeting, Qasim said that Nazim had travelled to Villa Park at his invitation, and that their discussions mainly focused on working together on the upcoming presidential election.

“The two sides [discussed] how we can together for the presidential election and the next parliamentary election. The talks were very successful and promising,” he said.

Qasim said that the two parties would continue their talks.

MNP’s deputy leader Ahmed Usham, who also attended Tuesday’s meeting, also described the talks as “extremely successful.” He expressed confidence the two parties will be able to generate a “formula” to work together in the presidential election.

“I believe we can produce a formula to work together in the upcoming presidential election,” he said.

Tuesday’s talks marked the first time for Qasim and Nazim to meet, after the latter left JP following difference in opinion. Both Nazim, and MNP’s deputy leader Abdulla Riyaz had been publicly criticized by Qasim following their decision to leave JP.

JP, which is part of the coalition that put President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in office in 2018, has decided that it will not back his re-election.

Both Qasim and Nazim have launched their election campaigns, and are also engaged in talks with other political parties for a potential coalition deal.