Former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has filed for crime record clearance as the largest opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) initiates "Plan B" for the September 9 presidential election.
Adhadhu can confirm that Waheed has filed for crime record clearance, but the PPM has not yet announced an alternative candidate if jailed former President Abdulla Yameen's candidacy rejection is upheld by the Supreme Court.
It appears that the PPM is awaiting a ruling by the apex court before announcing the alternative candidate. The opposition's "Plan C" is nominating sister party People's National Congress (PNC) candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
If the PPM does not get sufficient time to nominate a candidate, Plan C will come into motion and the PNC candidate will file papers before the deadline on Monday.
The Supreme Court concluded hearing arguments on Yameen's candidacy rejection case on Friday and a ruling is expected promptly.
Dr. Waheed was the Vice President during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government elected in 2008. He became President in 2012 following the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed during a mutiny by police and military.
Waheed remained away from politics for some time before joining the PPM on June 22, 2020. He was appointed as a special advisor to the party. He is also a senate member of PPM.
He contested in the 2013 presidential election but won only five percent of the votes. He did not contest in the next round after the Supreme Court canceled the first round of voting and instead backed Yameen who won the election.
