South-Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof has said he would support former President Mohamed Nasheed if he is allowed to contest in this year’s presidential election.

The government has said that Nasheed, the leader of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), will not be able to contest the election since he has fled the country and is yet to serve his prison term.

In a statement shared on Twitter on Sunday, Mahloof said that he believes the best decision for the opposition coalition would be to choose an MDP member as a presidential candidate and a Jumhoree Party member as his running mate.

He also said that MDP parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is the best choice if the opposition coalition parties were to pick a common candidate, since he has worked hard with other party members.

Mahloof said that he has worked closely with MDP since he leaving ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, and that he has received much support from Nasheed, adding that he agrees with much of MDP’s policies.

In the statement, Mahloof said that they put an end to the mass imprisonments, and the theft of state funds by senior government officials and the undermining of the legal system.

Mahloof has made his political opinions known over the fear that he might be jailed soon after the end of his ongoing trial. He said that these were his own opinions and will support any decision made by the opposition coalition.