Yameen to receive invitation for Muizzu’s inauguration

Parliament Secretariate says PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom will be receiving an invitation to attend President Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s inauguration ceremony.

Muizzu, who won September’s presidential election, will be sworn in during a ceremony at the Republic’s Square on Friday evening.

Parliament’s Communications Director Hassan Ziyau told Sun today that an invitation to Muizzu’s inauguration will be sent out to Yameen, on Monday, at the latest.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison and slapped with a USD 5 million fine on December 25, 2022, after he was found guilty of money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development.

He was transferred from his cell in Maafushi Prison to his home in Male’ City on October 1 – a day after PPM-PNC’s presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu won the Maldivian presidential election. The terms of his home confinement have been seriously eased by Maldives Correctional Service to allow the former president to leave his residence for some meetings and health-related purposes, including to exercise.

However, Corrections threatened to revoke the easements after Yameen involved himself in political activities where he was seen visiting PPM headquarters for meetings and gatherings. The former president then ceased involvement in political activities.

Muizzu contested the election after the seven justices of the Supreme Court ruled Yameen was ineligible to contest in light of his conviction.

Yameen then endorsed Muizzu, who won the election on PNC’s ticket.

Both PPM and PNC are parties that are run under the same leadership. PNC was a party incepted as a backup near the end of Yameen’s administration over fear of losing control over PPM.