Yameen’s candidacy will be accepted, final decision pending: Fuad

President of the Elections Commission, Fuad Thawfeeq, has stated that the Commission will accept the candidacy form submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) presidential candidate former President Abdulla Yameen if he decides to contest the presidential elections despite his incarceration.

Fuad said that the decision regarding Yameen's candidacy will be made by the Elections Commission after the acceptance of his form.

Fuad told Mihaaru News that the Elections Commission has not made any decisions to reject any specific candidacy, indicating that the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has the opportunity to submit a candidacy form for their presidential candidate Yameen.

"The candidacy forms will be accepted by the Elections Commission, and a decision will be made after considering all the legal aspects related to the candidacy," Fuad said. Fuad highlighted that the legal processes related to contesting in elections will commence once the candidacy form is submitted.

The opportunity to submit candidacy forms will open on July 23. However, since the appeal process for Yameen is still ongoing and he is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, his candidacy is considered ineligible.

According to the constitution, one of the criteria for presidential candidates is that a minimum of three years must have elapsed after serving a sentence, in cases where the candidate has been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to more than 12 months.

Yameen's lawyers have expressed confidence in the judicial system and believe that the ongoing appeal in the High Court will be completed in time for PPM to apply for his candidacy.

While the window to contest in the elections will be opened from July 23 to August 7, PPM has announced its decision to submit Yameen's candidacy during this period.