Adhurey: Muizzu was the one who was elected, no input is needed from others to form cabinet

Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey), who is leading the transition committee, citing PNC's candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as the individual who won the presidential elections held last month, has said he will be the one who will form his cabinet, adding he does not require anyone else’s list of recommendations. 

At a press conference held by the President-elect's Office today, PNC's Chairperson Abdul Raheem said that the constitution of a Cabinet is a discretion granted by the constitution to the president-elect. 

"He will be forming the Cabinet. No one, whether be it me or someone else, has to comprise and send lists for this. You know exactly that this does not work this way," Abdul Raheem said.

He was responding to a question from a journalist who claimed having been informed PPM-PNC's coalition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had sent Muizzu a list of people he wanted to appoint to his cabinet.

Abdul Raheem said he did not know whether President Yameen had sent such a list or whether Muizzu had said anything about it.

“I believe that the people entrusted things to Dr. Muizzu for the next five years. To PNC's candidate Dr. Muizzu. He came before the people; he promised the people. So he can only work with people he trusts to fulfil the p;edges he made,” he said.

Abdul Raheem added that Muizzu would consult with those who need to be consulted when forming the cabinet.

Earlier, Muizzu said he would be honored to receive former President Yameen's guidance and advice during his next five-year term.

However, Muizzu has not had the opportunity to hold talks with Yameen to his satisfaction due to Yameen's current legal situation and Muizzu is also busy with his electoral activities, Transitional Spokesperson Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Khaleel has said.

The opposition first awarded the ticket to President Yameen as a candidate from PPM-PNC.  However, his candidacy was rejected in light of the 11-year prison sentence against him for money laundering and bribery 

The appeal process was pending when Yameen’s candidacy form was submitted to the Election Commission. The commission rejected his form.  When the rejection was appealed to the Supreme Court, the apex court also reaffirmed the Election Commission's decision.

A primary was announced within the PNC while President Yameen had ordered a boycott of the election.

Muizzu, who was in the PPM at the time, left the party and joined the PNC. He went onto compete in the primary and win it. 

Muizzu met with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih after he won the election, and as a first request, requested to transfer Yameen to home confinment. The day after the second round of the election, Yameen was transferred to his home.