Senior ruling party officials in support of opposition's presidential candidate
PPM officials said that most members in PPM are there "out of fear"
Opposition\'s presidential candidate MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (C) with senior officials of MDP
RaajjeMV has learnt that some members of the ruling party's parliamentary group are in support of the opposition's presidential candidate MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The Hinnavaru constituency MP, and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group leader was elected as the opposition's presidential candidate on Saturday.
Speaking to RaajjeMV on condition of anonymity, a senior official of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)- who has served at the People's Majlis for years- said that Solih's election as opposition presidential candidate was "welcomed with joy".
"A number of us are in support of Solih. A number of MPs are here [in PPM] out of fear," said the official, adding that some businessmen aligned with the ruling party are in support of Solih as well.
According to the PPM senior official, they are ready "to give their support to the opposition candidate" and bring an end to his government.
Furthermore, he added that the support for Solih does not mean they are against MDP leader former President Mohamed Nasheed- who initially won the party's primary for the presidential election.
Noting that some people view the former president negatively, the official said that Solih is seen positively by institutions such as the Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Another PPM official said that he supports MP Solih as well, despite being by President Yameen's side.
"With Solih, we can easily end this [President Yameen'] government", he said.
Noting that the incumbent President and his campaign team are sure that he will take a "huge" majority in this year's presidential election, the official said that there is no doubt that the current administration will lose "by a wide margin".
While PPM officials have also expressed confidence that the opposition will win this year's presidential elections, they said that the biggest concern is that the government's "next step".
The PPM officials that spoke to RaajjeMV on the condition of anonymity revealed that they intend to take a "public stand" when the election draws closer.
