Yameen tells PPM-PNC coalition to boycott election

The opposition leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has instructed the opposition coalition, composed of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), to boycott the upcoming presidential election.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development on December 25, 2022.

Despite his imprisonment, he submitted his candidacy for the September 9 election last week.

The EC rejected Yameen’s candidacy due to his conviction, citing Article 109 (f) of the Constitution, which disqualifies candidates who have been sentenced to over 12 months in prison for a crime, unless it has been at least three years since they have completed their sentence or have been pardoned.

He contested the decision with the Supreme Court, which ruled on Sunday morning that the EC was right to declare the opposition leader ineligible to contest the election.

Yameen has reportedly sent a note, instructing the PPM-PNC coalition to consider boycotting the election.

The PPM-PNC leadership has convened for an emergency meeting to decide its next step.

In addition to contesting the EC’s decision with the Supreme Court, Yameen had instructed PNC to produce its own presidential candidate as a “backup.”

The PNC’s senate took a vote to decide its presidential candidate on Thursday, which was won by the Male’ City mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

However, the joint PPM-PNC leadership later said that PPM will produce an alternative candidate, and that supporting PNC’s candidate is a “third choice.”