The Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) and the main opposition coalition which is composed of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), PPM-PNC coalition, hold secret talks.
The Chairman of the Commission Fuwad Thowfeek and Vice Commissioner Ismail Habeeb represented EC in the talks.
The opposition PPM-PNC coalition was represented by its temporary leader Abdul Raheem Abdullah, Deputy President of PPM Mohamed Muiz, MP Ahmed Shiyam and former Minister of Economic Development, MP Mohamed Saeed.
EC tweeted that yesterday’s closed-door meeting was held with the main opposition on their request to discuss their concerns related to this year’s presidential election.
“(Pictures) from the meeting held with PPM where they shared their concerns on the presidential election-2023”, tweeted EC publishing pictures from the meeting.
Though few details emerged from the closed-door meeting, it is widely believed that the discussions would be on the position of the commission on accepting the candidacy of former President Abdulla Yameen while he is serving an eleven-year prison sentence.
The Criminal Court sent President Yameen to jail on 25 December 2022 after finding him guilty of accepting money in the leasing of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll - a state-owned island, and subsequently laundering the funds he received from the corruption.
As Yameen’s appeal against the eleven-year sentence is being presently heard by the High Court, the leadership of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition reportedly expects that the court will set him free before a 14-day period; where presidential candidates can express their interest at EC, expires. The 14-day period starts on 23rd of this month.
In a separate case in 2019, Yameen was sentenced to prison for five years and asked to pay a fine of US dollars five million. This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2021 setting President Yameen free.
The Chairman of the Commission Fuwad Thowfeek and Vice Commissioner Ismail Habeeb represented EC in the talks.
The opposition PPM-PNC coalition was represented by its temporary leader Abdul Raheem Abdullah, Deputy President of PPM Mohamed Muiz, MP Ahmed Shiyam and former Minister of Economic Development, MP Mohamed Saeed.
EC tweeted that yesterday’s closed-door meeting was held with the main opposition on their request to discuss their concerns related to this year’s presidential election.
“(Pictures) from the meeting held with PPM where they shared their concerns on the presidential election-2023”, tweeted EC publishing pictures from the meeting.
Though few details emerged from the closed-door meeting, it is widely believed that the discussions would be on the position of the commission on accepting the candidacy of former President Abdulla Yameen while he is serving an eleven-year prison sentence.
The Criminal Court sent President Yameen to jail on 25 December 2022 after finding him guilty of accepting money in the leasing of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll - a state-owned island, and subsequently laundering the funds he received from the corruption.
As Yameen’s appeal against the eleven-year sentence is being presently heard by the High Court, the leadership of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition reportedly expects that the court will set him free before a 14-day period; where presidential candidates can express their interest at EC, expires. The 14-day period starts on 23rd of this month.
In a separate case in 2019, Yameen was sentenced to prison for five years and asked to pay a fine of US dollars five million. This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2021 setting President Yameen free.
