The opposition, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Peoples' National Congress (PNC), have handed over their joint presidential ticket to former President of the Maldives and PPM President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The presidential ticket was handed over to President Yameen at a special ceremony held at the Carnival arena on Friday night.
The Carnival area was grandly decorated for the 'Havaaley Vathan' rally. A large number of PPM and PNC members from the atolls arrived in Male' City to attend the rally.
The PPM-PNC coalition's council decided to grant its presidential ticket for the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election on July 31. Yameen, who was facing obstacles in contesting the 2023 election due to a money laundering conviction, became eligible to contest earlier this year when the Supreme Court quashed his conviction. However, two cases are still pending against him in the lower court. If convicted of any of the charges, he will lose his chance to contest the election. The leaders of the two opposition parties are confident that President Yameen will not lose his chance in the presidential race.
