The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has announced its intention to operate as an opposition party during the next administration.
The declaration to remain a responsible opposing political party dedicated to progress, was made at a PPM council meeting on Monday following the recent electoral defeat of incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
A party congress to further discuss the future of PPM is to be held, although a specific date has not been set.
Several leading members of PPM participated in the press conference that was held following the council meeting.
This includes PPM's Vice President and current Minister of Tourism, Moosa Zameer, PPM Parliamentary Group leader Ahmed Nihan, and Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla and Kelaa MP Ali Arif.
Minister Zameer stated that an assessment regarding the reasons behind PPM's electoral loss would be conducted, though the PPM leadership did not mention any specific reasons during the press conference.
Abdul Raheem added that PPM would respect the choice made by Maldivian citizens in the election.
Ali Arif also declared that the recently concluded presidential election proved the integrity of President Yameen. He stated that while the opposition had accused the president and ruling party of influencing the election, the election was the most free and fair election held in the Maldives to date.
President-Elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the election with 134,146 votes which corresponds to 58.4 percent of the ballots cast, while the incumbent president received 95,623 votes or 41.6 percent of the ballots.
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