PPM gives tickets to 24 MPs without primary election

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has given tickets for 24 MPs to contest the parliament election without a primary election.

The opposition party gave them the tickets without even allowing the opportunity for others to apply for candidacy.

Party tickets were also given to MPs who will be contesting in constituencies other than their own in the next parliament election. This includes PPM’s parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan, who is currently representing Villimale’ but will be running for the South Thinadhoo seat.

PPM also gave tickets to Dhaandhoo MP Ahmed Assad to run for the South Galolhu seat and to Maldives Development Alliance member Mohamed Ismail after announcing that he has signed onto PPM.

The MPs who have been given PPM tickets without a primary are:

1. Kelaa MP Ali Arif,
2. Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail
3. Baarah MP Ibrahim Sujau,
4. Funadhoo MP Ali Saleem,
5. Milandhoo MP Hassan Mufeed Abdul Gadir,
6. Velidhoo MP Abdulla Yameen,
7. Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah,
8. Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ali,
9. Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem,
10. Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam,
11. Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza,
12. Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq,
13. Nilandhoo MP Dr. Abdulla Khaleel,
14. Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla,
15. Gemanafushi MP Jameel Usman,
16. Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed,
17. Madaveli MP Muaz Mohamed Rasheed,
18. South Fuvahmulah MP Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed,
19. Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid,
20. Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi,
21. South Maafannu MP Abdull Rifau,
22. Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed,
23. South Thinadhoo MP Ahmed Nihan, and
24. South Galolhu MP Ahmed Assad.

After giving them the tickets, former President Abdulla Yameen acknowledged that some may disapprove of the move but said that he made the decision as leader of PPM.

This is in stark contrast to what Yameen had said at a press conference after the ceremony on Monday night, where he claimed that PPM is being run under democratic principles and according to the will of its ordinary members.