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Yameen will face no contest in primary: Adam Shareef

Mohamed Rehan
02 August 2022, MVT 14:10
MP Shareef meets with former President Abdulla Yameen during an opposition coalition event--
Mohamed Rehan
02 August 2022, MVT 14:10

People's National Congress party member and parliamentarian for Maduvvari constituency said on Monday that even if the opposition coalition were to hold a primary, former President Abdulla Yameen would not face any contest for the coalition's presidential ticket.

The coalition; Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress had announced on Sunday that they had granted their presidential ticket to the former head of state without holding an internal primary election.

Yameen had accepted the nomination.

According to PNC president Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Yameen was offered the candidacy ticket without any contest in light of the political circumstances in the Maldives at the moment.

Abdulla further claimed that the former president was the only viable solution in resolving the island nation's socio-economic predicament.

This decision by the coalition has been criticized by political commentators as an obstacle to other members of both parties, who may have been aspiring to run for presidential candidacy ticket.

Several members of both opposition parties acknowledge that Yameen may lose the opportunity to run for presidency, if he were to be found guilty of any of the criminal charges currently pressed against him. Several charges of bribery and money laundering are pressed against Yameen due to his connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation's Corruption while he was president.

Maduvvari MP had via a tweet claimed the sentiments of public and opposition were aligned with regards to Yameen running for another term. The coalition thus, did not observe necessity for a primary.

Yameen was convicted with money laundering in November 2019, for which he faced a five-year jail term. The order was overruled by Supreme Court in November of 2021 after which he was acquitted, due to which he no longer faces legal obstacles from contending in the election.

However, should he face convictions in the ongoing cases tried against him, he will once again become ineligible to contend.

Currently the former president is facing money laundering and graft charges related to Aarah, and another graft case related to Raa atoll Fuggiri.

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