Leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has announced his decision to leave the party and establish a new political party.
The announcement was made by his lawyer Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed during a broadcast on Channel 13 on Thursday night. The news comes in the wake of a tumultuous few days marked by internal power struggles within the party leadership.
“Since his election as President, Dr Mohamed Muizzu has not returned President Yameen’s calls, and the country is heading into a dangerous direction,” Jameel said.
He stated that Yameen no longer wishes to exert any influence over PPM or PNC, and the PPM leadership itself does not want President Yameen’s consultation or guidance, despite having used his image to come to power.
Jameel accused Muizzu and the PPM leadership of betraying President Yameen.
“He did everything to change the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the people had requested. However, today the party leadership’s mindset is different from his, and they have distanced themselves from him. Therefore, he has resigned from the PPM,” Jameel said, adding that it was not an easy decision for the former president to leave the party he founded.
“There are many people behind Yameen, and PPM, which is currently hijacked by a particular group, is not in a position to win the parliamentary elections. He would not leave thousands of his supporters on the streets to fend for themselves.” Jameel said. “Yameen is a far-sighted leader, and he will remain in politics.”