Muizzu confirms PNC presidential ticket

Aug 3, 2023, 12:10 PM

Male' city Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has confirmed the People's National Congress (PNC) ticket to contest in September's presidential election in the event that former President Abdulla Yameen is barred from contesting.

Muizzu won the primary with 25 votes out of 47 in the PNC senate. His opponent, Maduvvari MP and former Defense Minister Adam Shareef got 23 votes.

Despite Muizzu confirming PNC's ticket, he told Adhadhu that he will withdraw from the race if the Supreme Court decides to accept Yameen's candidacy.

There were speculations that Muizzu was interested in contesting when the PPM-PNC coalition began campaigning for the election. But he repeatedly denied the rumors.

Muizzu started his political career with the Adhaalath Party (AP). He later joined the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and served as the party's Vice President. He then joined the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Muizzu was the Housing Minister in the Yameen government. He is currently the Mayor of Male' city.

Adam Shareef, who lost the primary, told Adhadhu earlier on Thursday that he would work with Muizzu to win the election even if he loses in the primary.

Yameen's situation

Yameen is currently in jail after he was found guilty of accepting a USD 1.1 million bribe to lease Vaavu Aarah in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal.

The appeal of Yameen's conviction and sentence started at the High Court but only one hearing has been held since the Eid holidays. The case has stalled due to the leave of judges.

A constitutional case was also filed twice in the Supreme Court to ensure Yameen's electoral rights. Both times the court dismissed the case.

Despite the legal hurdles, Yameen submitted candidacy papers with his former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed as the running mate.

But the Elections Commission (EC) on Tuesday declared that Yameen is ineligible to contest. The EC legal team advised that the 11-year prison sentence on Yameen has not been quashed by any courts.

The PPM-PNC coalition on Wednesday filed a case in the Supreme Court following the EC's rejection of Yameen's candidacy. The apex court gave until 3 pm Thursday to respond to the legal points raised by Yameen's lawyers.

President Mohamed Muizzu

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