Progressive Party of Maldives dissolved

One of the largest political parties to have been active in the country, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has been dissolved and removed from the political parties register.

This has been done following a party senate decision to dissolve the party.

Elections Commission published the decision on the gazette today.

PPM had led the government from 2013 to 2018. It was initially formed by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom after his then party Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) split into two factions. Abdulla Yameen, Maumoon's half-brother, won the party primaries, going on to win the presidency.

During Yameen's administration, rifts formed between the brothers. After a legal battle in Civil Court, Gayoom had to leave the party, with Yameen taking over full control of PPM from 2016 onwards.

After the end of his administration, with fears that Gayoom may reclaim PPM, another party, People's National Congress (PNC) was formed as a back up. However, the Court ruled in a manner that left PPM, too, under Yameen's control, leading to him running both PPM and PNC.

In the last presidential elections, Yameen was unable to run on a PPM ticket as he was then convicted of money laundering and bribery. He then allowed a candidate from PNC to run for the presidential seat instead. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu won the PNC ticket, and subsequently became President.

Since President Muizzu assumed office, PPM's political activities stalled, with the smaller PNC seeing new growth with party leaders driving membership and activities.

All ruling coalition candidates for last year's parliamentary elections also contested on PNC tickets.

Large numbers of members from PPM, too, switched to PNC, now the ruling party. PPM, however, had 12,174 members even when the party was dissolved.

Gayoom, meanwhile, formed Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) following his exit from PPM. Yesterday, the Elections Commission announced that MRM, too, was being dissolved, this time due to failure to register the minimum required number of members.

A recent amendment to the Political Parties Act now bans the use of colours or logos affiliated with a dissolved political party for five years.