PPM to gather opposite venue where President set for campaign appearance

The opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), has announced plans to gather at the Artificial Beach – opposite to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s main political center, where President Ibrahim Mohamed Soli is set to make his first campaign appearance Wednesday night.

The opposition has been holding serial protests in Male’ following the money laundering conviction against the opposition’s presidential candidate, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on December 25. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined USD 5 million.

PPM’s spokesperson Heena Waleed said that the next protest against Yameen’s imprisonment would be held at the Artificial Beach at 08:45 pm Thursday.

She said the party had approval from the Male’ City Council to gather at the beach.

‘We have asked the police to provide us with security for tonight’s event,” she said.

President Solih, who is competing for MDP’s presidential ticket to secure his second term in office, is set to make his first campaign appearance at MDP’s main center, located opposite to the Artificial Beach, at 09:00 pm Thursday.