PPM suspends all activities, indefinitely

The opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has suspended all their party activities, indefinitely.

PPM secretary-general Mohamed Hussain Shareef said this ahead of a party rally on Friday, adding that a date to resume activities will be announced later.

Shareef told the press later that the party suspended its activities to focus on increasing membership for another party that PPM leader Abdulla Yameen, the former president, has created.

The Elections Commission has authorized Fonadhoo constituency MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla to form the People’s National Congress, which is reported to be Yameen’s new party.

Raheem’s request was first rejected due to him still being registered with PPM and the lawmaker has since resigned from the party.

Raheem announced on Friday that the new party has already garnered 3,000 members, making it eligible for registration with the Elections Commission.

PPM’s leadership is currently in dispute and the matter has been appealed up to the Supreme Court, which is yet to decide on the matter.

PPM was founded by Yameen’s half-brother, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who is now a member of the government coalition with his Maumoon Reform Movement.

The former ruling party was split in 2016 after reported conflict between Yameen and Maumoon, whose supporters say is ‘single-handedly’ responsible for Yameen’s election to office in 2013.