The Maldivian political arena is experiencing significant alignments and realignments as key parties prepare for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) have agreed to contest the elections together, a decision ratified by the PPM Senate.
This coalition represents a continued collaboration, following their joint venture in the last presidential election, where PNC’s President Mohamed Muizzu, who currently leads the country, was the coalition candidate.
However, this unity between the PPM and PNC faces a challenge following the departure of PPM’s former President Abdulla Yameen, who has initiated efforts to form a new political party – the People’s National Front (PNF).
Yameen’s exit, attributed to disagreements over the party’s direction, adds a new dimension to the political dynamics. Yameen, currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for money laundering and graft, is represented by his senior lawyer Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and former Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal.
In response to Yameen’s departure, PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who also serves as the Special Advisor to President Muizzu, reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to moving forward under Muizzu’s leadership. He emphasised the coalition’s focus on national interests and public welfare.
Meanwhile, the PNC, under President Muizzu’s leadership, is exploring potential alliances with the Jumhooree Party (JP). A high-level meeting between the two parties, attended by President Muizzu and senior PNC officials, was convened to discuss collaborative opportunities. The JP, having expressed its openness to political partnerships, was represented by key figures including Deputy Leader Aishath Nahula and Advisor Riyaz Rasheed. This meeting signifies a broader strategy by the ruling party to consolidate its position ahead of the elections.
The current super-majority in the parliament, led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is also gearing up to retain its majority. The MDP faced a significant loss in September’s presidential elections, exacerbated by rifts within the party that led to supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed breaking away to form a new party, The Democrats.
Both The Democrats and the MDP will realign the current makeup as they hold significant seats in parliament, which have been MDP strongholds for years.