Ministry of Finance, on Tuesday, confirmed that the MVR 18 million allocated for opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in the 2018 State Budget, was finally issued to the party during the previous week.
PPM had submitted a case to the Civil Court over the withheld funds, claiming that the party was dealing with severe financial difficulties which affected administrative operations and party trips. Local telecom company Dhiraagu also disconnected the party's official phone lines over failure to pay phone bills.
The Elections Commission (EC) initially stated that the funds were withheld due to unresolved court cases filed against PPM regarding party conduct at the time. This included the case to hand over party leadership to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom after dismissing former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom from the position. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Yameen.
EC had requested the Finance Ministry to issue funds to PPM following the conclusion of this case. However, the ministry stated that the withheld funds would be released after salaries and Ramadan allowances of state employees were settled.
As per the Political Parties Act, funds allocated to parties must be handed over during the first three months of the year.
In addition to its financial difficulties, PPM also has a pending debt to Island Aviation Services Ltd (IAS) over the MVR 4.8 million contract for the transportation of party members during the presidential election campaigns of 2018. The party paid MVR 1 million following complaints submitted to EC by Island Aviation over PPM's failure to repay the agreed amount. PPM is yet to settle the pending amount.
PPM recently made several changes to the party's leadership, including the election of four new vice-presidents. Additionally, elections for regional offices will also be held soon.
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