‘Too early’ to discuss interim candidate, says Gayoom

“We haven’t talked about that yet,” he told the press Monday night. “It’s a bit early for that so haven’t talked about that at all,” he told reporters when asked about ruling party lawmakers saying the opposition coalition will collapse over the question of a single candidate.

The response fuelled speculation that the joint parties have been unable to agree on choosing a non-politician as a ‘unity’ candidate as suggested by former president Mohamed Nasheed. In early October, Nasheed urged the opposition to back a candidate who would serve as an interim leader to enable reforms and pave the way for new elections.

After presiding over a meeting of the opposition’s steering committee and joint parliamentary group, Gayoom, however, expressed confidence over the success of the joint opposition’s reform agenda. “God willing, we will carry forward this reform programme very successfully and complete it soon,” he said.