Ruling party's coalition partner postpones decision on stance for upcoming elections

Ruling party's coalition partner, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has postponed a council meeting where they are to decide their stance for the upcoming presidential ballots.

With the election less than a month away, MDA was to hold a council meeting on Saturday night, which was later cancelled.

While RaajjeMV was unable to clarify a reason for the cancellation, we understand that the party is to decide on whether to remain in the coalition.

Additional reports indicate that MDA and PPM are involved in a dispute, especially as MDA leader Ahmed Siyam has been notably missing from the campaign for incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's election re-bid.

While President Yameen won the 2013 presidential elections with the support of MDA, Jumhooree Party and Adhaalath Party, MDA is the only party remaining in the coalition. Other two are now part of the joint opposition.

While both parties had previously reached an agreement, RaajjeMV understands that this agreement has since expired.

However, earlier in August, PPM's deputy leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla claimed that the agreement was valid till the end of the year, adding that 'there is no need to worry about its renewal'.

While Siyam has been missing from ruling party events, it was reported that this was due to him being abroad. However, he has not been seen at any events since returning to Maldives.

Siyam had been defending the president till December 2017, even saying that Yameen has 'never asked his associates or those under him to partake in any acts of corruption or tyranny'.