President Mohamed Nasheed has received clearance from the courts and other state institutions to submit his candidature to the Elections Commission as the Maldivian Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming election on September 7.

Speaking at a press conference at the Mookai Hotel in Male’ today, President Nasheed thanked MDP members and reformists for their efforts to ensure that he would be allowed to contest the presidential election.

President Nasheed expressed gratitude to his legal team as well as international actors for their assistance and cooperation. He also thanked reporters for their coverage of the MDP’s activities since the transfer of power in February 2012.

President Nasheed observed that a ”realignment” of political parties was occurring ahead of the presidential election.

While the Adhaalath Party has decided to enter into a coalition with the Jumhooree Party, President Dr Mohamed Waheed has announced that he would contest the election as an independent candidate, President Nasheed noted, leaving the status of his running mate Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali in question.

President Nasheed extended an invitation to senior members of the Progressive Party of Maldives who have left the party to join MDP.

Asked if he feared that coup perpetrators would be able to rig the election, President Nasheed said he believed that the election would be free and fair after the voter list is properly finalised and observers, monitors and agents are able to participate.

While not discounting the possibility of attempts to rig the election, President Nasheed said: “When the tide has turned it becomes very difficult for anyone to swim against it.”