PNC given green light to hold inaugural assembly

Hours after parliament speaker Qasim Ibrahim announced that he will do what is needed to ensure that former President Abdulla Yameen’s People’s National Congress (PNC) is registered, the Elections Commission (EC) has given the party the go ahead to hold its inaugural assembly.

Fonadhoo constituency MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who recently left former ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to form the new party, announced this via twitter on Thursday.

He said that the Commission has given them the approval to hold the inaugural meeting on Thursday, but did not disclose a date on when it will be held.

While the Commission had rejected a number of membership forms submitted by the party, MP Raheem claimed that commission member Ibrahim Habeeb had told them that this was due to “personal reasons” against PNC members.

A political party can only be registered after the submission of 3,000 membership applications, PNC had submitted 4,000 forms earlier in January. However, EC said that only 1,945 forms were valid. While the party had later submitted at additional 1,100 applications, only 300 were valid.

EC’s decision to allow the party to have its inaugural meeting comes less than 24 hours after parliament speaker and Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim threatened to summon its officials to the parliament’s institution on independent institutions.

Qasim also said that he will ensure that the party is registered, even if parliament has to convene for 24 hours.

While PNC has been given the approval to carry on with its inaugural assembly, the party will be officially registered afterwards. At least 300 members must be in attendance at the assembly.

Two additional parties have been registered at the Elections Commission since last year’s presidential elections; Maldives Third-Way Democrats and Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party (MLSDP).