Working with Democrats will not hurt Yameen's campaign: PPM

The opposition PPM/PNC coalition said on Sunday that it does not believe that the campaign of the opposition presidential candidate, former President Abdulla Yameen, will be harmed even if they work with The Democrats, a breakaway party being formed by former MDP president Mohamed Nasheed.

Yameen’s campaign team held a press conference at the party office on Sunday. Yameen is serving an 11-year prison sentence for money laundering and bribery. 

The Democrats and the opposition PPM-PNC coalition have decided to work together to end the rule of President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih.

Replying to a question, Yameen's campaign manager Mohammed Ameen said he did not believe the joint efforts of the opposition coalition and The Democrats would have any impact on Yameen's campaign. He believes the effort will benefit Yameen's campaign.

Ameen said Yameen's campaign would be strong and that there was room to work with another party other than the Democrats.

Yameen is serving a prison sentence and there are questions about his ability to contest the elections. However, the opposition has assured him that he will contest the election and win.

At a recent press conference, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is the acting in charge of the PPM/PNC coalition, said he was working with the Democrats. However, he said he had not received any official offer from the Democrats to form a coalition for the presidential election. If such an offer is received, the PPM will work together in consultation with Yameen, he said.