Muizzu focused on second round, not system vote

PPM/PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said last night that he has no interest in taking a vote to change the governing system right now and that his focus is on the upcoming second round of the 2023 presidential elections.

Answering a question from a journalist during an interview he gave after concluding his campaign trip to the Northern part of the Maldives, Muizzu said that he has no interest in taking a vote to change the governing system.

“I don’t want to debate this topic. I will focus on this election,” he said.

The Democrats, which the Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed heads, is trying to take a vote to change the governing system before the second round of the elections. However, both PPM and MDP are in agreement to do so after the second round.

In addition, the parliament has requested elections commission to take a yes or no vote regarding the governing system before September 30.

EC will make a decision regarding this request tomorrow.

Muizzu further said that he has visited around 50 Islands after the first round, and he says all he saw from those islands is sadness.

“The people have many needs that they ask of us, trust us. God willing, we will fulfil those needs of the people,” Muizzu said.

He further said that he hopes the people that supported and voted for other candidates who aren’t contesting the second round and have not made a decision on who to support during the second round will vote for him and that he is very sure that he can win the second round of the elections.

JP candidate Qasim Ibrahim, The Democrats candidate Ilyas Labeeb, independent candidates Umar Naseer and Ahmed Faris Maumoon, all of whom contested the first round of the elections, have decided not to support any candidate in the second round.

The only one who has made a coalition for the second round is MNP’s candidate, Colonel Retired Mohamed Nazim. MNP has made a coalition with PPM without any conditions. Dr Muizzu, who will contest tye second round of the elections which is to be held on September 30, recieved 46 percent in the first round. And President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is also contesting the second round, recieved 39 percent in the first round.