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Ex-pres Gayoom looks to establish MRM as a political party

Fathmath Shaahunaz
31 January 2019, MVT 21:13
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom speaks at MRM press conference. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED/MIHAARU
Fathmath Shaahunaz
31 January 2019, MVT 21:13

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Thursday announced his decision to establish his political movement, Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM), officially as a political party.

Speaking at a press conference, Gayoom said, "God willing, we shall collect the number of signatories required as per the law and submit the application to the Elections Commission...', expressing confidence that his new party would be registered soon.

Gayoom further revealed that he would change MRM's full form from the current 'Maumoon Reform Movement' to 'Maldives Reform Movement' for party registration.

The former president made the announcement amidst diminishing hopes that he could win the leadership dispute case of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which he had founded. The case, which seeks to take back PPM's leadership from former president and Gayoom's estranged half-brother, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, is still ongoing at the Supreme Court.

However, the top court on Wednesday upheld the High Court's verdict that PPM's Extraordinary Congress in September 2018, in which Yameen was officially declared PPM's new leader, was legitimate. Following the ruling, the EC has also decided to issue the party MVR 8 million, which was allocated from the state funds and previously withheld over PPM's Congress case.

Gayoom said that the apex court's verdict was deeply saddening, but that the core group of MRM was determined to keep up its political work.

Upon being questioned whether his decision to establish MRM as a political party stemmed from losing confidence in regaining PPM, Gayoom cryptically responded that the Supreme Court was not likely to pursue any other case related to PPM's Congress after its verdict on Wednesday.

Gayoom further shared that candidates vying for MRM's ticket to contest in the upcoming Parliamentary Elections would run as independent candidates. However, he assured that he would back all of them.

Meanwhile, the EC has also decided to register former President Yameen's new political party, People's National Congress (PNC). The commission made the decision after its temporary committee ruled in PNC's favour, regarding complaints raised that the party had been formed using the assets and resources of PPM. However, the committee stated that it could not revoke PNC's permit.

MRM would be the third political party to be founded by former President Gayoom. He previously founded Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and PPM, both of which he left after falling out with their appointed leaderships.

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