The Elections Commission (EC), on Thursday, authorized the formation of the new political party, People's National Congress (PNC) spearheaded by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
EC member Ahmed Akram stated that PNC now has a three-month period to attain 3,000 members. According to the Political Parties Act, newly formed parties will only be formally registered at EC and given permission to hold a General Meeting after this membership requirement is fulfilled. If PNC attains 3,000 signatories before the three-month deadline, the General Meeting can be convened.
EC rejected PNC's first authorization bid as the request was filed by the then-former Vice-President of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdul Raheem. The representative for Fonadhoo, Laamu Atoll resigned from PPM and re-submitted the request earlier on Thursday.
Former President Yameen announced efforts to establish the new political party earlier this month, attributing the decision to a legal dispute over PPM leadership.
Two members of PPM had filed a case to the Civil Court requesting to transfer PPM leadership to Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was the former PPM leader and Yameen’s half-brother. The case has since been forwarded to the Supreme Court where it is yet to be resolved.
Yameen’s close associates have revealed that his biggest obstacle leading the opposition, following his defeat in the presidential election, is the dispute over party leadership following his political fall-out with his estranged half-brother.
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