Dr Muizzu's presidency was not granted by Yameen: Mundhu

Ambassador-at-large Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) responded to the allegations suggesting that former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was the reason for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu winning his presidency election, stating that such claims are false.

Shareef, whose name was sent to the Parliament for appointment by the government as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), issued this statement in response to comments from senior officials of the People’s National Front party (PNF), a party former President Yameen is attempting to establish.

Shareef informed ‘Mihaaru’ that former President Yameen, who was in jail at the time, attempted to impede the candidacy of PPM (Progressive Party of the Maldives) / PNC (People’s National Congress party) candidate for the presidential election last year by devising Plan A, B and C.

However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu secured the candidacy as per Plan C, representing PNC and he adhered to the party’s regulations as per Shareef.

“When President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu won the [PNC internal vote], it no longer made sense to call for a boycott. [Yameen] by himself created plan A, B and C. He structured it in such a manner that option B [PPM] was not considered. Option C was chosen. That is the PNC candidate and running mate”, Shareef said, who was previously closely associated with the former President.

Former President Yameen, who was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison, instructed PPM to boycott the presidential election following the Supreme Court’s ruling that he was ineligible to contest the election. He also asked PPM/PNC Senate to boycott the election if they believed his electoral rights had been violated.

Some PPM/PNC members who had been advocating for his rights for five years, also disagreed with the decision.

The PPM/PNC Joint Senate’s vote to determine whether to proceed with former President Yameen’s decision did not pass as he wished. Out of the 126 members present at the meeting, 67 members voted against boycotting the presidential election, while 46 members voted to boycott the election as requested by him.

PNC decided to contest the election and approved President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as its presidential candidate.

“Former President Yameen did not provide any other choice except to join PNC [for the presidential election]. Hence, [Yameen] does not have the right to talk about PPM today”, Shareef said.

Shareef also stated that Yameen does not have a right to say that PPM does not care about him, after all the obstacles he caused.

“If he had an interest or love for PPM’s future, there was a possibility to provide an alternative candidate. The chance was there”, Mundhu said. “That opportunity was taken away from us and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was chosen as the PNC candidate not because he was especially interested nor as a way of seeking an alternative to PPM”.

Shareef said that if Yameen had wished PPM well, he would have chosen plan B or given PPM the opportunity to nominate another candidate.

“He clearly said he would give the opportunity and then acted in a manner that prevented it”, Shareef said, referring to former President Yameen.