Maumoon gets involved in PPM lawsuit to delay election

Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has filed for involvement in the PPM lawsuit to postpone the upcoming Local Council Election by two months.

Maumoon said that the law required for the election to be held before a specific date, and that delaying the election was an infraction of the rights of both voters and candidates.

He said that such a decision would be an irrevocable loss to especially to independent candidates who have already made all their preparations for the set date.

Maumoon’s lawyer, Husnu Suood has been summoned for the preliminary hearing on the case, which will be held at Civil Court at 10:30 am, coming Thursday.

Opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed for involvement in the case.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s faction asked for a court order to postpone the Council Election citing that the current situation made it necessary for a postponement.

It said that PPM was the biggest political party in Maldives, and the recent difficulties faced by PPM made it impossible for the party to prepare for the election in time.

It said it did not have its database, its membership register, or other vital documentation; and that holding Local Council Election at the scheduled date could result in irrevocable damage to the party.

Civil Court on Sunday night issued a temporary court order to hold re-registration for the election open indefinitely.

The current term of council members will end on February 23, 2016.

Law on local council elections makes it compulsory for council members to be elected and take their oath before the term ends.