During the ongoing Senate meeting, 42 members unanimously voted in favor of the dissolution when the matter was raised.
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Senate has passed a resolution to dissolve the party, a coalition member of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).
During the ongoing Senate meeting, 42 members unanimously voted in favor of the dissolution when the matter was raised.
The meeting was chaired by the party’s two vice-presidents, Ahmed Shiyam and Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon who also hold ministerial positions.
There has also been previous attempts to dissolve PPM, including efforts to transfer its members to PNC. The ruling PNC now has approximately 90,000 members.
PPM, which held power from 2013 to 2018 under the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen, was formed following a rift in the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), leading to the establishment of the "Z DRP" faction led by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Yameen won the party’s primary after its formation.
However, during Yameen's tenure, Maumoon dissented and filed a case in the Civil Court, resulting in his removal from the party. Since 2016, PPM has been fully controlled by Yameen. Fearing the potential return of Maumoon’s influence, Yameen founded a new party, People’s National Congress (PNC).
A court ruling later upheld Yameen's control over PPM and both parties continued to operate under his leadership.
However, when Yameen was unable to contest the last presidential election on the PPM ticket, the opportunity was given to another candidate from PNC. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu secured PNC’s presidential candidacy, and later won the election.
Since President Muizzu took office, PPM has been in a limbo, with efforts shifting towards strengthening the PNC, which was previously smaller in numbers. During the parliamentary elections PNC members contested for parliament seats.
Yameen resigned from PPM after being transferred from jail to house arrest, just before President Muizzu's swearing in.
A recent amendment to the Political Parties Act now prohibits the use of a dissolved party's color and symbol for five years.