The opposition coalition has been fined for violating the Political Parties Act as well as the safety guidelines the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has set under the country’s Public Health Protection Act, against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Comprising of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), the progressive coalition was fined MVR 75,000 by the Elections Commission of the Maldives on Monday.

The violation in question, was by staging a protest titled “Raajje Vikkaalun” translated to “Selling Maldives” on Friday night, where a number of youth took part on motorcycles.

This is in breach of the social distancing measures that have been implemented.

Further, senior officials of the progressive coalition’s leadership were summoned for questioning regarding the rally.

Some of the leadership officials who were slapped with MVR 1,000 fines include PNC’s President Abdul Raheem Abdulla, former MP for Baarah constituency Ibrahim Shujau and PNC’s Vice President and Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam.

Former President and advisor to the Progressive Coalition, Dr. Waheed Hassan Manik was also summoned to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) for questioning.

Despite the police summons, the opposition continues to assert that they will not back down, and that the people will continue to voice their concerns.