News

Opposition appeals to delay parliamentary polls

Opposing Progressive coalition, the alliance between Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Peoples' National Congress (PNC) has appealed at the Peoples' Majlis and the Elections Commission to delay the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7th April.

In the past, PPM requested at the Civil Court to delay the local council elections, which was subsequently granted.

In a joint press conference held by PPM and PNC, founder of PNC Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the current environment of the country does not allow for a free and fair election, and the coalition has shared their concern with the Elections Commission and the parliament.

While the opposition claims the country does not have an independent environment to hold a free and fair election, their leader former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom was recently detained until the end of his money laundering trial. The police are also currently investigating their parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan.

The opposition coalition on Friday night also expressed concern and alleged that the current government is obstructing the opposing candidates from carrying out their campaign for the parliamentary election by summoning them to the police headquarters over different reasons.