Responding to an article titled “neither Yameen nor Nasheed but a coalition candidate” and published by Ocean Weekly which is believed to be a voice for The Democrats, MP Ahmed Shiyam – Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Naifaru Constituency, said “the first contender to submit his papers for the presidential election that is scheduled for September 9, will be PPM’s presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom”.

MP Shiyam cautioned The Democrats on “daydreaming about the presidential election”. He also reminded The Democrats that Yameen was the first contender to have been officially endorsed by a political party for this year’s presidential race.

“Allah Willing, Yameen’s papers will be the first to be submitted at the Election Commission of Maldives on July 23, ” said MP Shiyam.

Presently, former President Yameen is serving a decade long prison sentence and his appeal against the lower court’s verdict is being heard at the High Court. The leadership of opposition PPM believes that President Yameen will be freed by the High Court within several days.

The Election Commission of Maldives will start accepting papers of presidential candidates on July 23.
PPM and The Democrats have been working together for days now and the former is led by President Yameen and the latter by President Nasheed.