The opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition awarded its presidential ticket to former President Abdulla Yameen. The two parties are now campaigning for the jailed former leader.
Yameen is serving an 11-year jail sentence after the Criminal Court found him guilty of bribery in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah island in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption.
Despite his conviction and sentence, the PPM-PNC coalition is pressing ahead with the campaign, insisting that Yameen would remain the coalition's candidate for the September presidential election.
However, Yameen needs to win the appeal trial pending at the High Court in order to be eligible as a candidate and the opposition hopes the High Court would overturn his conviction.
Elections Commission (EC) President Fuwad Thowfeek told Adhadhu's 'Etherefuh' program that the commission would reject Yameen's candidacy if his conviction and sentence continued.
"[He] cannot contest until [the jail sentence] is quashed. The candidacy will not be accepted. [They] can submit [the form] but we will not accept [the candidacy]," he said.
Fuwad said the commission would immediately accept Yameen's candidacy if his sentence was quashed before the deadline ends for candidates to file applications.
“If the conviction is overturned, we will be able to accept [the candidacy] the very next day,” he said.
PPM-PNC coalition earlier stated that they would go to court if EC rejects Yameen's candidacy. According to Fuwad and as per the law, the EC will have to accept Yameen's candidacy if the court issues an order.
