Maumoon now “president” of main opposition: PPM lawmaker

A lawmaker of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) slated Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom late Tuesday, describing the ousted leader of PPM as the president of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Speaking at the ceremony to receive membership forms of PPM’s newest members, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah proclaimed that Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is currently living under political asylum in the United Kingdom, will not return to the Maldives and that his political party MDP’s “president” now is his predecessor and former arch rival Maumoon.

MP Falah censured Former President Maumoon’s thirty years of power, saying that the people had remained silent and allowed him to rule as he pleased. Criticising the lack of national development during the three decades of Maumoon’s rule, MP Falah noted that the incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has brought about more development than ever seen before in just three years which, he said, has stolen the sleep from the opposition’s eyes.

“They’ve realised that they cannot come to power again even by 2060.”

In his speech, he also slammed Former President Maumoon’s son, Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon, who plays a key role in the opposition coalition. It is rumoured that Former President Maumoon is looking to bring MP Faris to power.

Remarking that MP Faris do not respond to calls from the people of his Dhiggaru constituency, MP Falah demanded how one that cannot be held accountable to a population of 5,000 can be expected to run a country.

He went on to say that there had been only 25,000 members in ruling PPM when Former President Maumoon first founded the party. However, he noted that the number has now increased to 60,000 by the campaign efforts of First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim and other individuals.

“Madam [Fathimath] says there will be 120,000 members in PPM by the end of this year, God willing. With God’s mercy, we’ll run for the presidential elections with enough members and people that can bring victory to [President Yameen] with votes from PPM alone,” he declared.

The lawmaker also refuted rumours that more members of PPM will shift sides to MDP. However, he claimed that a number of lawmakers from MDP and Jumhoory Party are expected to sign on to PPM soon.