PPM, MNP begin talks
PPM has previously said that it is currently in talks with political parties to work together to change the government.
Main opposition PPM-PNC coalition has also started talks with the opposition MNP and held its first meeting on Thursday evening.
The PPM-PNC has decided to work with other opposition parties to change the government of President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih. They are also holding talks with The Democrats, which is being formed by parliament speaker Mohammed Nasheed who recently resigned from the ruling MDP.
The PPM-PNC held its first meeting with the MNP on Thursday evening. However, the venue of the meeting is unclear.
Although PPM shared photos of the meeting with the media, no details were given about the discussions.
The PPM-PNC was represented by:
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The coalition's acting leader, PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdullah
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PNC Vice President and Male City Council's Hulhumale member Ibrahim Shujau
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PPM Vice President and Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam
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Faresmathoda MP Mohamed Latheef
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Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thorig
MNP members who attended the meeting:
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Party vice-president and Thimarafushi MP Abdullah Riyaz
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Party vice-president and Villimale MP Ahmed Usham
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MNP leader and presidential candidate Mohammed Nazim's campaign manager Mohammed Fayaz
The PPM presidential candidate is former President Abdulla Yameen. He is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, but the opposition says he will be able to contest the election.
The MNP presidential candidate is the party leader, Dhangethi MP Mohammed Nazim. Nazim, who was arrested and jailed for a long time for finding a pistol in his house while he serving as the defence minister in Yameen's government, has also launched his presidential campaign.
The fourth meeting of talks with The Democrats was also held at the PPM office on Thursday evening. However, neither party gave details of the talks.
The PPM has previously said that it is currently in talks with political parties to work together to change the government. These discussions do not cover the presidential election and Yameen will be the only PPM candidate, the PPM said.
The PPM-PNC coalition on Thursday rejected Nasheed's call for both Yameen and him to not contest this year's presidential election and to filed a common candidate to defeat the government of President Solih.
