Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom has announced efforts to form a new political party. He announced the formation of Maldives Reform Movement following a meeting held to discuss about the candidates he will endorse for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Speaking to the press, the former president revealed he has begun efforts to form Maldives Reform Movement, adding he hoped to register the party in a near future and in accordance with the set procedures. He currently leads a political bloc, Maumoon Reform Movement, and is part of the government coalition.
Furthermore, the former president noted candidates representing Maumoon Reform Movement will compete in the parliamentary elections as independent candidates, but with his endorsement and support.
The former president announced the formation of a new political party following the Supreme Court ruling validating the Extraordinary Congress of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which elected former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as the party president. Maumoon, who was ousted from PPM, has waited for a final verdict on the matter from the courts of law. Yameen, meanwhile, has formed People’s National Congress (PNC), in case the court ruled against his leadership. However, it is unclear if he would leave the leadership of PPM for PNC.
Maldives Reform Movement would be the third political party formed by Maumoon, who was at helm of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and PPM.