Monday, November 5, 2007

Adhaalath to compete in presidential election of 2008

05 November 2007
Report: Soodh

President of Adhaalath Party Sheikh Hussain Rasheed has said that the party would compete in the forthcoming presidential elections. He made the statement while answering a question from Velidhoo News.

Speaking at a special interview given to Velidhoo News, President of Adhaalath Party said the party’s presidential contender will decided once the ongoing constitutional reform is completed. However he assured Velidhoo News that the party will compete in the elections of 2008.

Adhaalath Party has held discussions with trio who resigned from cabinet last August yesterday. Speaking to Velidhoo News on the discussions held Sheikh Hussain Rasheed said discussions were held on the trio’s request to establish friendly relations with “Open Society” an organization the trio had established.

Talks were held on increasing public awareness and in this regard it was agreed to bring foreign experts and to hold talks on the more pressing issues of the society.

“Talks were held in a very friendly manner, discussions were mainly on bringing foreign experts to talk on political and social issues to increase public awareness” Sheikh Hussain told Velidhoo News.

In addition to Sheikh Hussain Rasheed the meeting was attended by Dr. Abdul Majeed Baari, President of the Scholars Council of Adhaalath Party. On behalf of the Open Society the meeting was represented by Dr. Hassan Saeed, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Mohamed Jameel, the trio who resigned from President’s Gayoom cabinet last August.

All of the political parties registered in the country have now said that they would compete in the presidential election of 2008. However many are yet to finalize on their presidential candidate preferring to wait until the revised constitution is passed by the Majlis.

There are 3 candidates who have said that they would compete in the elections, they are Leader of Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party, DRP, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of Islamic Democratic Party IDP Umar Naseer and Dr. Hassan Saeed ex Attorney General who is not connected to any party as yet.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP, Adhaalath Party,Maldives Social Democratic Party, MSDP have all assured Velidhoo News that they would compete in the elections of 2008. The parties however say that they would wait until the completion of constitutional reform before going ahead with the election of party candidate.

Recently President Gayoom has said the he is determined to make the elections of 2008 a fair, free and inclusive one.

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