The Elections Commission (EC) has rejected the candidacy form of former President Abdulla Yameen for the 2023 presidential election, citing his ineligibility to participate in the election.
Article 109 of the Maldives Constitution states that a person who is eligible to run for the presidency must not have been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to more than 12 months, unless a period of three years has elapsed since their release or pardon.
Yameen is currently serving an 11-year jail sentence after being convicted of money laundering and graft in the Vaavu atoll Aarah lease case. Although the case has been appealed to the High Court, it has stalled without a verdict.
The commission has officially confirmed to local media its decision to reject Yameen's candidacy.
Despite the Election Commission's decision to reject Yameen's candidacy, his running mate, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, announced that the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) will appeal the case to the Supreme Court. Once the issue is filed with the Supreme Court, the court is required to deliver a sentence within seven days.
The deadline for submitting the candidacy form for the presidential election is August 7. The election is scheduled to take place on September 9.
PPM's coalition partner, People's National Congress (PNC), is currently deliberating the possibility of nominating a different candidate following EC's decision to reject Yameen's candidacy. The coalition's leaders have expressed that the decision regarding an alternative candidate will ultimately be determined by Yameen himself.
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