Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has granted party tickets, without a primary, to some of its candidates competing in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
During a press conference, President of PPM Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom revealed a total of 24 individuals, including 23 sitting parliamentarians, have been granted tickets to compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He further said other individuals would also be given tickets to compete in the elections scheduled to be held in March 2019.
However, the former President of Maldives noted a primary would be held to select candidates in most of the constituencies. Yameen highlighted some former ministers, who filled positions in his cabinet, have also expressed interest to compete for a parliament seat. He said the aim is to contest in as many constituencies as possible and win a good amount of seats in parliament for the party.
Of the individuals who have received the tickets, Parliamentary Group Leader of PPM Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik and Ahmed Assad would be competing for a different constituency, with all the other parliamentarians contesting for their current constituencies.
Furthermore, Yameen, a former parliamentarian, did not distance himself from contesting for a parliament seat, with rumours getting strong that he plans to seek a return to politics, after his landslide defeat in the presidential election held on September 23.
Mohamed Nasheed, a former president and the current leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has also hinted he would be contesting in the parliamentary elections.