CALM AND SOMBRE, NEW PREZ IS A REFORMER

Male, Sept. 24: The Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party ( MDP) nominated Solih, popularly known as “Ibu”, as its presidential candidate after the Elections Commission barred Nasheed, now in exile in Sri Lanka, from standing. Many key opposition leaders, two former presidents Gayoom and Nasheed, a vice president and scores of ministers were hit with jail terms after swift trials that drew international criticism.

Mr Solih has been in the Opposition since he first entered Parliament, known as the People’s Majlis, in 1994, except for a two- year spell under Nasheed, before the latter was ousted amid a police mutiny.

A close confidant of the former president and married to one of his cousins, Solih played a leading role in forming the Maldives Political Reform Movement from 2003 until 2008, which culminated in the adoption of a new constitution. He was also part of the special parliament set up under Gayoom, who ruled the tropical islands for three decades until 2008, to write a new modern constitution for a multi- party democracy. He has led the opposition in parliament since 2011.

He led the MDP during protests in March 2015 after Nasheed’s arrest for alleged terror offences, charges the opposition called politically motivated.

Friends say Solih has a calm temperament, and is likely to champion democracy and freedom of expression.