PPM rules out backing Gasim in pres election
As of now, the party is yet to announce its next course of action.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
PNC president Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is in charge of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition, said on Monday that the coalition will not back another party's candidate in the presidential elections.
Jumhooree Party's (JP) presidential candidate and party leader Gasim Ibrahim has invited five candidates, including PPM-PNC, to form an alliance with JP for the presidential elections.
"PPM/PNC alliance will not support any other party's presidential candidate. President Yameen is the presidential candidate of this coalition," Abdul Raheem tweeted shortly after he received the invitation.
"Those who wish well for the country join this alliance. It is in the best interest of the country and its people."
Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom is PPM’s presidential candidate. However, his 11-year jail sentence for accepting bribes and money laundering charges and sentencing to prison have prevented him from contesting the presidential election. If he does not survive the verdict in the High Court now, he is far from contesting the elections.
As of now, the party is yet to announce its next course of action.
Yameen came to power in 2013 through an alliance with JP with the help of Gasim. However, the coalition broke down in the middle of the government. He was later jailed during Yameen's tenure. Gasim was also unable to contest the 2018 election because of the constitutional amendment that targeted him and prevented him from becoming a presidential candidate as he was 65 years old.
