It is important for the government to have majority in parliament, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking to the media after casting his ballot in Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s primary election for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the president said this “is important to fulfill the government pledges.”

He said that he wants to see the ruling coalition receive majority in parliament, to ensure the government’s pledges are fulfilled.

President Solih further said that after MDP’s primary concludes, the main focus will be to ensure that the coalition wins majority in April’s parliamentary elections.

“The [coalition] leaders must get together, and begin work to do what is needed to ensure a win in the upcoming elections,” said the president.

While President Solih speaks about the importance of the ruling coalition acquiring majority in parliament, he recently expressed “regret” that the parliament had gone into recess after the final session in 2018 without voting on bills to empower presidential commissions- Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances and the Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery.

He had said that it was disappointing that parliament had gone into recess without voting on the matter, despite the government having majority in parliament.

The ruling coalition comprises of MDP, Jumhooree Party, Adhaalath Party and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Maumoon Reform Movement.