The Ministry of Finance has released MVR 8.4 million to opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), which had been withheld by the Elections Commission over legal issues over its leadership.

While Supreme Court had later ruled to release the money owed to the party, the finance ministry had in late-April stated that the money owed to PPM in 2018 was not included in 2019’s cash flow forecast.

Hence, the ministry said that it will pay the funds to PPM after giving out salaries and Ramadan allowances to government employees.

The opposition party, who suffered a huge loss in April's parliamentary elections, is in debt. It owes MVR 3.8 million to the national airline after chartering flights on credit to transport supporters to a mass rally held by party leader and then President Abdulla Yameen in 2018. While the party said that it will pay the airline after the ministry releases the funds.