President of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that PPM has started discussions with other political parties regarding forming a coalition for the second round of the presidential election.
Gayoom said this while speaking to PPM supporters at ‘Fusion Centre’ established by PPM in Abaarana Hall in Nasandhura Palace Hotel tonight.
“We have started discussions regarding forming a coalition for the second round. The second round can only be won by forming a coalition,” he said.
He said that the result of this year’s presidential election is similar to that of 2008’s, in which he received 44 percent of votes while Nasheed received 25 percent of votes. Addressing PPM’s election coordinators, PPM presidential candidate Abdullah Yameen said that PPM was confident it would secure majority of votes from several atolls, but the votes of those atolls were deeply divided.
He said that this happened because parties were divided, instead of acting as one group against opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Preliminary results of the presidential election show that former president Mohamed Nasheed received 44 percent, PPM presidential candidate Abdullah Yameen received 25 percent, and Jumhooree Party (JP) presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim received 24 percent, while incumbent President Dr Mohamed Waheed received 5 percent of votes.
A minimum of 50 percent is required to win the election in the first round, failing which a second round of voting will be held between the two leading candidates.