Muizz in debut meeting as PPM-PNC candidate vows to free Yameen on first day of presidency

The first order of business on the day he assumes power after winning the presidential election is to release former President Abdulla Yameen from jail, PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz said on Monday.

Male mayor Muizz made the remarks at his first meeting with his main campaign team at the PPM-PNC office after submitting his candidacy to the Elections Commission on Monday. Atoll Times has reviewed the video footage of the meeting.

Muizz said the first thing he will do after winning the presidential election is to ask President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih to transfer Yameen home, who is serving an 11-year jail sentence in an MMPRC fraud case.

“If we go to a second round, and win the second round, I will get on the podium, and the first thing I will say is to call on the incumbent president to bring him [President Yameen] home immediately,” Muizz said.

"Anyway, the first thing I will do on the day we take over (if he is not brought home by then) is to bring [President Yameen home]. That means we will step up the work we started on Sunday and successfully free him”.

Yameen, while serving an 11-year prison sentence, tried to contest the upcoming presidential election.

The Election Commission rejected Yameen’s candidacy and he appealed appealed to the Supreme Court. Before the case was resolved, the PNC nominated Muizz as a backup candidate in a vote taken after Yameen asked the party to nominate a candidate.

Muizz submitted his candidacy form this morning and the PPM said he would be the third choice if Yameen could not contest. Thus: