The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has scheduled an emergency meeting of the Senate this afternoon.
PPM is the second largest political party in the country and the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) came to power in a coalition with PPM.
The agenda of the meeting, which will be held at the PNC office at 2:00 pm today, was not disclosed. However, some senators told Adhadhu that the decision to dissolve the party was on the agenda.
Some senators said they were told by a senior official of the government to vote to dissolve PPM.
"Otherwise, we would lose jobs," some senators said.
Adhadhu reported on July 31 that the efforts were underway to dissolve PPM.
Members of the PPM-PNC coalition earlier told Adhadhu that the efforts to dissolve PPM were launched following a decision from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and PNC Chairman and Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla.
According to the PPM's Rules of Procedure, the party may be dissolved if the party's financial condition deteriorates to such an extent that it becomes difficult to operate and the party leadership proposes to the party senate that it should be dissolved after consideration by a 3/4 majority of the Senate.
"In case of dissolution of the party, the money and assets of the party shall be used to pay the debt and the remainder shall be donated to a charity fund established by the Senate registered in Maldives," the rules stipulate.
Message posted on PPM Senators' group.
There are some cabinet ministers in the Senate of PPM. The party’s Vice Presidents are Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam.
While the PNC conducts a major membership drive, Shiyam and Ghassan have not announced their departure from PPM.
According to the latest data from the Election Commission, the PPM has 34,698 members as of September 18 this year. The ruling PNC has 28,983 members.
