Jumhooree Party (JP) has announced that it will produce a candidate for the 2018’s presidential elections.
It was a unanimous decision by the party’s council, during a meeting held at JP’s main office M.Kunooz on Thursday.
Kinbidhoo MP and deputy leader of the party’s parliamentary group, Abdulla Riyaz, said although the constitution no longer allows party leader Qasim Ibrahim to contest the elections, JP will produce a presidential candidate. He also said during the all-party talks, JP will discuss amending the constitution, in such a way that Qasim can become eligible to run for president.
Riyaz said certain election-related laws have to be amended prior to the presidential elections, therefore JP will look into it and do what is required to bring such amendments.
In June 2015, the constitution was amended, setting an upper age limit of 65 for presidential candidates.
So far, former home minister Umar Naseer is the only one who has officially announced his candidacy. Although President Abdulla Yameen loyalists are saying that the President will run for a second term, he is yet to confirm this.