Jameel: Yameen has decided to leave PPM to form new party

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has decided to leave the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – a party he leads – to form a new one, according to his top attorney, former Vice President. Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

Jameel said there were multiple reasons why Yameen made the decision.

He said that while Yameen had been imprisoned the last five years on what he described as politically motivated charges, the former Maldivian leader continued to lead efforts for the rights of Maldivian citizens.

He described the decision by the Supreme Court to back the Elections Commission (EC)’s decision to disqualify him from this year’s presidential elections as a huge loss.

Jameel said that Yameen continued to put the interests of the Maldivian people first, and decided to back a presidential candidate from PPM’s coalition partner, the People’s National Congress (PNC).

“It is, in truth, a result of this that a candidate from the PPM-PNC won the election and changed the administration. The hard work he and his family engaged in during the transitional period is also evident to all,” he said.

NO CONTACT BETWEEN YAMEEN, PRESIDENT MUIZZU

Jameel said the Maldivian people voted for President Dr. Muizzu to free Yameen, and to ascertain the country’s independence and improve its economic situation.

He noted that the first promise President Muizzu made upon winning the election was to deliver justice to Yameen and free him.

Jameel said that Yameen remains confined and “isolated.”

“Today, the members of the leadership and the people who worked with him at the PPM are nowhere to be seen,” he said.

Jameel said that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu hasn’t responded to a single phone call from Yameen since winning the September election.

“I want to make one thing clear to the people. Dr. Muizzu hasn’t picked up a single phone call from President Yameen since winning the election. And, the PPM leadership has also moved away from President Yameen,” he said.

LACK OF COOPERATION FROM PPM LEADERSHIP

Jameel said that the parliamentary elections next year is the biggest political task ahead, and people want to see Yameen leading the efforts.

He said that the PPM leadership hasn’t been seeking or following any of Yameen’s counsel in any of the party’s affairs.

He said the leadership does not want to follow Yameen’s instructions.

“Because on the actions of the people in PPM’s leadership, because they don’t want to seek his counsel, and because they do not want his leadership, President Yameen decided tonight to leave PPM,” he said.

Jameel alleged that the PPM had been “hijacked.”

He said that Yameen is now seeking to form his own political party.