EFTA Document EFTA01733736

Answers to the questions: A. The Elections Commission has yet to announce the dates. The expected date for the election would be somewhere around late August 2013 or early September. B. We have put together a few teams as follows. These teams have been provided with a meeting space. The teams are using their own resources currently. All these teams have the same secretarial support. We are looking for funds to provide them with work stations and other items like multimedia, copiers, mass SMS systems etc. The team members work pan time and three of the teams have reported some progress. The progress monitoring and coordination has been delegated to Mr. Massood Imad. Name of Team Names of Members TOR Current activities Manifesto Development (5 members) Massood (leader) Development of new policies. ( "campaign promises") Strategize turn around plans for current poorly performing social / public policies. Critique and question the rationales and assumptions of other manifestos Fund raising (6 members) Massood (leader) Meeting with potential donors. Organize fund raising activities. Financial management and planning. Publishing, Arts and Graphics (6 members) Massood (leader) Design information packs. Social Network presence and rebuttal Data collection and entry Other teams: - Get Out To Vote Travel Schedules: Maintained and coordinated centrally by Mr. Ali Rasheed. EFTA_R1_00008776 EFTA01733736 C. There are at least three candidates who have publicly declared their interest to compete. The former president, Gayyoom enjoys a good following amongst the rural masses (middle aged to elderly). However, he has not yet declared his interest officially. He is the interim president of PPM. Gayyoom, his sons and daughters along with other close, rich and influential relatives form the nucleus that holds PPM together. Currently PPM is my main supporter within the government coalition. I have good support among it's members and they would prefer me to join PPM and become its candidate. PPM is divided among two factions and if they cannot solve the problem, Gayoom may decide to be its candidate. President Nasheed my predecessor has a good following of the young urban population. He is the president of the MDP. The party structure is quite strong and is well organized. It is believed that the financial backing comes partly from various investments sanctioned during his tenure. He has an exceptional media presence. Nasheed is under criminal charges and may not be able to run. There is no clear successor to him. But if the court decision comes within the next three months, MDP is likely to field a new candidate. I used to be an MDP member and have some following within it too. Two other political parties (DRP and JP) have also chosen a presidential candidate. These two parties arc unlikely to be serious competitors but may have a significant role to play in a coalition. JP leader has financial resources so he is likely to be courted by other candidates. In general the political landscape is unpredictable. Recently key people in various parties have defected or have deserted. D. Some of my current concerns would be: a. Lack of adequate number of experienced sincere people who can help and commit full time. Therefore, people who have formerly worked in opposite camps have been accepted into our teams and are work with us and are holding influential positions. b. There are sensitivities I have to consider when assigning projects and resources to a certain individual, island community or a ministry. It has been observed that allocation is affecting the willfulness and responsiveness of the interest groups. c. There is a need for intelligence and information access. d. The core group I have is small and closed. Therefore the ability to collect information, to provide input and the power to execute is limited. e. Our networking and membership is picking up. There is poor documentation of and limited follow up with "converts" who have shown interest to help. EFTA_R1_00008777 EFTA01733737 f. It is very costly to visit the communities in far flung islands. Therefore organizing the network of supporters has become a challenge. I have yet to visit several more atolls. My strengths: I. I have full media coverage. All my official appearances are shown on all TV stations. 2. I have great appeal to the people. I can relate to them easily. My rivals arc getting to be jealous. 3. My government will be able to show good achievement in a short time. 4. I have the backing of major business leaders. 5. More active people are joining me, and party is starting to grow. 6. I have made some landmark decisions which are widely popular. 7. My image of a quiet intellectual type has now changed to a strong decisive type. 8. I have a wife who is also doing well in public. She has a successful NGO, Maldives Autism Association which gives her independent coverage. 9. I am widely seen as a fresh unspoiled and clean politician. EFTA_R1_00008778 EFTA01733738