Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has said that in the event that former President Abdulla Yameen cannot participate in the upcoming presidential election, the best option for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) would be to align with the Democrats instead of putting forth a candidate through its affiliated party, the People's National Congress (PNC).
Speaking while campaigning for The Democrats' presidential candidate, Ilyas Labeeb, Nasheed said he foresaw that PNC would field a candidate for the September election. However, he is still hopeful that the PPM would join The Democrats, he said.
"The current competitiveness can end only if we join you [PPM], and this is a reality that everyone is aware of," said Nasheed.
The PPM-PNC coalition presented its presidential ticket to its leader Yameen in February last year. However, after being convicted on money laundering and bribery charges in December 2022, he is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, rendering him ineligible to contest the election. Although the opposition filed his candidacy form to the Elections Commission on Monday morning, the commission rejected his candidacy, citing that he did not meet the requirements of Article 109 of the Constitution. The EC's decision has now been challenged at the Supreme Court.
Nasheed has extended the invitation to the PPM to join forces with the Democrats on prior occasions as well. However, the PPM declined the invitation.
