The Inter-Party Talks to field a single candidate for the 2018 Presidential elections has begun.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who will chair the sessions, and Deputy Chair Jumhooree Party Deputy Leader Abdullah Riyaz reported that the talks began on Monday. In the introductory session, parties in the opposition coalition submitted their preconditions. An additional meeting will be held on Tuesday, where the preconditions will be deliberated on.

Solih added that both 2018 Presidential elections and 2019 Parliament elections were on the agenda for the Inter-Party Talks. 

Riyaz stressed that all parties in the opposition coalition were still adhereing to the agreement signed on March 2017.

The single candidate talks started at a time when the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) had mocked the opposition's decision to field a single candidate for the elections.