The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said the opposing coalition has made progress in its efforts to secure the candidacy of their imprisoned leader, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, for the upcoming presidential election.
The PPM-PNC coalition awarded its presidential ticket to former President Yameen last year. However, the Criminal Court found him guilty of money laundering and bribery in December, stripping him of the eligibility to run in the presidential election. His eleven-year jail sentence means cannot contest the election unless a higher court quashes the Criminal Court verdict.
While many have raised questions regarding Yameen's eligibility and what it means for the election, the opposition coalition continues to assert that Yameen would contest the presidential election as its candidate and that the party does not plan to field another candidate.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, PNC's President, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is now leading the coalition in Yameen's absence, said many efforts are being made both locally and internationally to ensure that Yameen can contest the September election. He said progress was being made but declined to share details.
"We don't want to disclose that information to the media at this time," he said.
PPM's relevant committees recently started investigating a case where senior party officials allegedly campaigned to field another candidate in Yameen's absence. It has been reported that Male' City Mayor and former Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is among those interested in the PPM ticket.
Regarding the rumors that Muizzu may run in the election in Yameen's place, Abdul Raheem today said that President Yameen would contest the presidential election and that Yameen was the party's choice for the presidential candidate from plan A to plan Z. He said the party would submit Yameen's name to the Elections Commission as soon as the commission opens application for Presidential Election candidacy. Under that circumstance, if there is any doubt about his candidacy, the Supreme Court will be forced to decide on it within a certain period, he said.
Abdul Raheem also expressed dissatisfaction that President Yameen's trials are scheduled to be conducted in the lower court in a string while there is time to appeal some motions of an ongoing case in the Supreme Court.
The opposition coalition has also decided to hold a special rally at Alimas Carnival on Friday night to expand the PPM's activities further.
