All the Presidential Candidates except the MDP Presidential Candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have confirmed their participation in the official Presidential Debate ahead of the election next month.
The official debate organized by State Media PSM and the Maldives National University is scheduled to be held on the 1st of next month. Invitation has been sent to all 8 candidates contesting in the September 9th Presidential Election.
So far, PNC Candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, The Democrats Candidate MP Ilyas Labeeb, Jumhooree Party Candidate MP Gasim Ibrahim, MNP Candidate Colonel Retired Mohamed Nazim, Independent Candidates Umar Naseer, Faris Maumoon, and Hassan Zameel have all confirmed that they would take part in the debate.
While President Solih remains undecided about whether or not he will participate in the debate, the opposition parties have voiced concerns over the delay.
At a recent press conference Spokesperson for the President's Campaign Defense Minister Maria Ahmed Didi spoke about the President's debate appearance and said that the President gives the highest priority to finding out the people's concerns and complains. She said that after this if there is enough time, the President might consider taking part in the debate.
In response, the Democrats Spokesperson MP Imthiyaz Fahmy said that while meeting the people is vital in a Presidential campaign, the debate also plays an important role that would allow the candidates to answer questions posed by their voters. He added that it is highly concerning that the President is finding excuses for the debate.
The debate scheduled for next Friday would allow the voters to hear the policies an visions of all the candidates taking part in the election from one stage and also see them answer questions from the public.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih did not take part in the Presidential Debate held before the 2018 election as well.
