President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has asked the leadership of main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to reconsider hosting the party's internal congress elections later this month.

Those members of MDP who wish to contest for president of constituencies in the party's congress must acquire at least 50 signatures from citizens from their constituency. Those contesting for presidency in provinces or cities must submit 200 signatures of supporters to legitimize their candidacy.

While MDP will be electing a total of 455 members into different positions at the party's congress, President Solih advised MDP members to reconsider that decision in light of the assassination attempt against former president and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed on Thursday night.

President Solih made the remarks at the 173rd MDP National Council Meeting held on Sunday night, and stated that the attack on Speaker Nasheed had come at a time MDP was preparing full-speed for an internal congress. President Solih stated that MDP's internal elections are always a time of increased competition among members, and that now was not the time to give opportunity to such divisions among members of the party.

President Solih added that now was the time for MDP to show unity, and requested that the party leadership reconsider hosting the elections later this month.

While the President has made his stance clear on the matter, MDP's Spokesperson and MP for the North-Maafannu constituency Imthiyaz Fahmy had previously stated that the party's internal congress would proceed as previously scheduled.

In a special interview with Raajje MV, MDP's Spokesperson Imthiyaz confirmed that the party's internal elections would proceed as scheduled, and that candidates contesting in the election could submit their forms online due to the prevailing threat of Covid-19.