PPM holds emergency talks over removing Maumoon as party leader

The council of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Sunday held an urgent meeting to discuss the expulsion of Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as the leader of the party.

Mihaaru understands that the ongoing meeting is chaired by the party’s advisor, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who was given control of the party by the judiciary following the political fall-out between the two Gayoom half-brothers. Since then, the party has been split into two factions.

PPM council is holding the emergency meeting amidst the high tension caused by Former President Maumoon signing a pact with opposition political leaders to work against President Yameen and pass the motion of no confidence against parliamentary speaker Abdulla Maseeh scheduled for Monday.

Senior members of President Yameen’s faction of the divided PPM have declared that Former President Maumoon is no longer within rights to sign any agreements on behalf of PPM. Describing his decision to work with the opposition as “destructive”, some PPM members have warned that Maumoon will be stripped of party leadership.

PPM’s deputy leader Abdul Raheem has said that the procedure to remove the party’s leader from position is clearly defined in the party’s charter but did not provide details.

Meanwhile, members of Former President Maumoon’s faction of PPM maintain that the party’s council cannot oust him from his post without a vote from PPM members as Maumoon was elected leader by members present at the national committee assembly.

PPM’s charter states that control of the party belongs to its leader. However, following a lawsuit against Maumoon accusing him of not carrying out his mandate, the Civil Court had issued an order to transfer party control from Maumoon to President Yameen.