Adhurey to Yameen: A new party is no loss to PPM-PNC

The ruling coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) has nothing to lose from former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s decision to leave the coalition he previously headed and form a new political party, says PNC chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey).

Speaking to reporters after a joint senate meeting on Wednesday night, Abdul Raheem said that PPM-PNC has nothing to lose if someone forms a new political party.

He said that it has not affected the PPM-PNC, and that the coalition’s membership was growing.

Abdul Raheem said that though the main opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds a majority in the Parliament right now, he is “100 percent confident” that the PPM-PNC will win a supermajority in next year’s parliamentary elections.

When questioned by Sun regarding the coalition’s formula to achieve a supermajority, Abdul Raheem highlighted four main points.

“The formula is to work tirelessly. To continue to deliver our pledges to the people. For the people to see us delivering our pledges. And for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration to work closely with the people,” he said.

“With this formula, we will, In Sha Allah, win by a great landslide in the parliamentary elections.”

President Muizzu had only run in the presidential election after the Elections Commission rejected Yameen’s candidacy due to his money laundering conviction. The decision was later backed by the Supreme Court.

Following the court decision, Yameen initially asked the PPM-PNC coalition to boycott the election, but later rescinded the request following opposition from leaders of the coalition, and endorsed President Muizzu.

But just short of a week into President Muizzu’s administration, Yameen left PPM, and announced plans to form a new party – the People’s National Front (PNF).

Yameen’s aides said he took the decision after he was deliberately sidelined from the coalition.

However, President Muizzu has refused to comment on rumors of the rift between him and Yameen.