Ex-Pres Yameen stepped away over Zein's minister snub: Shujau

The Senior Deputy Leader of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group and Baarah MP, Ibrahim Shujau has said former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom stepped away from the current administration after his son Zein Abdulla was denied Tourism Minister's position.

Yameen had previously endorsed Dr. Mohamed Muizzu presidential bid last year.

Shujau's response has come after Yameen's criticism towards the current administration at Friday evening's People's National Front (PNF) rally.

At the rally, Yameen said he distanced from the current government because of its continued mistakes, which he said he does not condone.

Responding to this, Shujau said on X, that the former President exited the coalition just six days into the current administration.

"What mistakes did the government commit in those six days? So, please don't say that. It is because Zein was snubbed from the Tourism Minister's position, is it not?" Shujau questioned.

Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker and ruling PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla had criticized his former ally's recent statements as well.

Abdul Raheem said Yameen was attempting to mislead the public with fallacies. He also said that Yameen could not come to terms with the fact that someone else has ascended to presidency.

While Shujau has accused Zein's ministerial snub was the reason for Yameen's decision to step away from the coalition, the current tourism minister is Abdul Raheem's son, Ibrahim Faisal.

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and PNC coalition decided to field Dr. Muizzu as its presidential candidate after the Elections Commission (EC) disqualified Yameen due to his then ongoing criminal sentence.

Back then Yameen was still serving his 11-year jail term for graft and money laundering convictions related to the lease of Vaavu atoll Aarah.

Immediately after Muizzu secured his presidential win at the elections last year, his first order of business was to formally request his predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to transfer Yameen to his residence.

However, less than a week into Dr. Muizzu's presidency, Yameen exited from the coalition to establish his new party, PNF.