Progressive Party of Maldives

Progressive Party of Maldives ޕްރޮގްރެސިވް ޕާރޓީ އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް
Abbreviation	PPM
President	Mohamed Muizzu[1]
Secretary-General	Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq[2]
Vice presidents	Abdulla Khaleel Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon[2]
Founder	Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Ahmed Faris Maumoon
Founded	27 October 2011[3]
Split from	Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party
Headquarters	Maafannu, Seatrack Building, 7th Floor, Malé, Maldives
Membership (September 2024)	34,698[3]
Ideology	Islamism[4][5] Social conservatism Maldivian nationalism[6] Right-wing populism[7]
Political position	Centre-right to right-wing
Religion	Sunni Islam
Website
www.ppm.mv
Politics of the Maldives Political parties Elections

The Progressive Party of Maldives (Dhivehi: ޕްރޮގްރެސިވް ޕާރޓީ އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް, PPM), is a political party in the Maldives with a total membership of 35,044 as of 25 April 2024.^[3] The stated goal of the party is driving Maldives towards an independent and democratic, safe and secure, high income, high human capital, developed nation state with a diversified and robust economy whilst preserving its Islamic heritage.^[8] The party is to be dissolved.^[9]

History

2011–2012

The party was formed by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 2011 after resigning from his first party, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), citing corruption of views after new leadership. The political party first emerged from a faction of DRP, named Z-DRP, which was formed by Gayyoom in early 2011. This occurred after in-party disputes between Gayyoom, who was serving as the party's retired "Supreme Leader", and the then leader, Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

On 4 September 2011, Gayyoom handed in his resignation from the DRP announcing that the Z-DRP faction of the party, would become a new party independent from the DRP. The very next day, he unveiled the plans for the "Progressive Party of Maldives".

On 8 October 2011, the proposed party was granted license from the Elections Commission to go ahead; giving the party a time frame of 9 months to register itself with the government.^{[10][11][12][13]}

In August 2012, PPM accused the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP, the main opposition party) of pressuring the United Nations Human Rights Committee, and called the 2012 Maldives report of the UN organ "serious and concerning", alleging that the UN called to allow same-sex rights and religious freedom in the Maldives.^[14]

2013–2018 (ruling party)

On 17 November 2013, PPM became the ruling party of Maldives after its candidate Abdulla Yameen (Maumoon's half-brother) won the 2013 Maldivian Presidential Election, defeating MDP Candidate Mohamed Nasheed in the runoff.^[15]

In 2014, PPM took majority of the People's Majlis after winning 33 seats in the parliamentary election of 2014, while coalition partners Jumhooree Party (JP) won 15 seats and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) taking 5 seats.

In 2015, both JP and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party had left the Government coalition.

In 2018, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen lost the elections to opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.^[16]

2018–present

Party split and coalition with PNC

Due to a leadership dispute between former President Abdulla Yameen, and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and due to fears of loss of leadership, the party leadership split the party into two separate parties, a new party called People's National Congress (PNC), and PPM. The party won the case. PPM and PNC formed an opposition alliance called the Progressive Congress Coalition.^[17]

In the April 2019 parliamentary election PPM lost heavily. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won a landslide victory. It took 65 of 87 seats of the parliament.^[18]

Former president and leader of the party Abdulla Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison in November 2019 for money laundering. The High Court upheld the jail sentence in January 2021.^[19] The case was overturned by the Supreme Court of Maldives on 30 November 2021.^[20] However, the Maldives Criminal Court sentenced 11 years in prison and fined him $5 million for terrorism financing^[21] and the Supreme Court denied and rejected the decision to compete Abdulla Yameen to the elections.^[22]

Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, mayor of Malé City, decided to compete to the Elections on the behalf of People's National Congress. On 30 September 2023, Muizzu won the second-round runoff of the Maldives presidential election, beating incumbent president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with 54% of the vote.^[23]

Yameen-Muizzu Conflict

The internal strife within the PPM-PNC coalition reached a breaking point on Thursday, barely a week into incumbent President Mohamed Muizzu’s term. The faction aligned with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom is now calling for the incumbent's resignation.^[24] On Thursday night, Yameen stepped down from his role as the leader of the PPM and revealed intentions to exit the party, signaling his intention to establish a new political entity named "People's National Front".^[25]

The proprietor of the building that presently accommodates the primary political hub of PPM has instructed the party to evacuate the premises. The PPM conducted its political activities at H. Hurafa. This directive comes at a juncture when both the party leadership and its former head, Former President Abdulla Yameen, have parted ways with the party.^[26]

Incumbent Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef reiterated his steadfast support for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday, underscoring his commitment to stand alongside the President in ensuring that the new presidential term yields benefits for the Maldivian people.^[27]

Dissolution

On 2 December 2024, PPM's Senate passed a resolution in an emergency meeting to dissolve the party.^[28][29] During the senate meeting, all 42 members unanimously agreed to dissolve the party.^[30][31] There also had been many attempts to dissolve PPM and change all members to PNC.^[32][30] The Elections Commission later began the process of dissolving the party on 19 December.^[33]

Electoral history

President elections

Election	Party candidate	Running mate	Votes	%	Votes	%	Result
			First Round		Second Round
2013	Abdulla Yameen	Mohamed Jameel Ahmed	53,099	25.35%	—		Annulled N
			61,278	29.72%	111,203	51.39%	Elected Y
2018		Mohamed Shaheem	96,132	41.62%	—		Lost N
2023	Mohamed Muizzu	Hussain Mohamed Latheef	101,635	46.06	129,159	54.04	Elected Y

People's Majlis elections

Election	Party Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position
2014	Maumoon Abdul Gayoom	51,424	27.72%	33 / 85	New	1st
2019	Abdulla Yameen	19,176	9.12%	5 / 87	28	3rd
2024	Mohamed Muizzu	0	0	0 / 93	5	Didn't contest

See also

• List of Islamic political parties

References

1. Rehan, Mohamed (7 December 2023). "President Muizzu appointed as PPM/PNC coalition leader". The Edition. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
2. Mohamed, Mariyath (17 October 2024). "PPM appoints Khaleel as Deputy, Haleem as SG". The Edition. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
3. "Progressive Party of Maldives". Election Commission of Maldives. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
4. Junayd, Mohamed (5 April 2019). "Maldives president hoping for election majority to probe China deals". Reuters. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
5. Zahir, Azim (6 September 2023). "For the Maldives, this election season has only brought worries". The Nikkei. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
6. Ghafoor, Mimrah (23 December 2022). "Maldives' 2023 Election Will Shape Indian Ocean Geopolitics". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
7. Musthaq, Fathima (2014). "Tumult in the Maldives". Journal of Democracy. 25 (2): 164–170. doi:10.1353/jod.2014.0030. ISSN 1086-3214. S2CID 153980727.
8. "ޕާޓީގެ މައިގަނޑު އުޞޫލުތައް" [Party Constitution]. Progressive Party of Maldives (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
9. "PPM senate passes resolution to dissolve the party".
10. "Gayoom unveils Progressive Party of Maldives; mum on 2013 presidential bid". Haveeru Daily. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
11. "Gayoom applies for license to create new party". Haveeru Daily. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
12. Naish, Ahmed (5 September 2011). "Gayoom's new party to be called Progressive Party of Maldives". Minivan Daily. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
13. "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2004, Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life, Ali Shaahir, Hassan Eevaan Naseem, Abdulla Amin, Ali Aslaam etc". US Department of State - Archive. US Department of State. 25 February 2004. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
14. "UN report had been pressured by MDP: PPM". Progressive Party of Maldives. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014.
15. "Maldives election: Abdulla Yameen wins run-off vote". BBC News. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
16. Rasheed, Zaheena (17 November 2018). "Ibrahim Mohamed Solih sworn in as new Maldives president". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
17. Mohamed, Shahudha (28 April 2019). "PNC will lead Maldives' future political decisions: Abdul Raheem". The Edition. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
18. "Maldives election: Early results show victory for president's party". BBC News. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
19. Zalif, Zunana (21 January 2021). "High Court upholds ex-president's five-year jail sentence". raajje.mv.
20. Junayd, Mohamed (30 November 2021). "Maldives' ex-president Yameen walks free after graft conviction overturned". Reuters. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
21. "Maldives former president Yameen gets 11-year jail term". Reuters. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
22. Junayd, Mohamed (6 August 2023). "Maldives Supreme Court bars jailed ex-President Yameen from race". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
23. Junayd, Mohamed (1 October 2023). "Maldives opposition candidate Muizzu wins presidential vote". Reuters. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
24. "Yameen faction demands President Muizzu's resignation, a week into term". Sun. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
25. Rehan, Mohamaed (26 November 2023). "Yameen announces new party; People's National Front (PNF)". The Edition.
26. Masood, Mohamed Iyad (25 November 2023). "PPM asked to vacate their main office". Sun. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
27. "VP defends President Muizzu, says he puts people's interests first". Sun. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
28. "PPM Senate emergency meeting: dissolution of party on agenda!". Adhadhu. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
29. "Party senate decides to dissolve PPM". Adhadhu. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
30. Shahid, Malika (2 December 2024). "PPM senate passes resolution to dissolve the party". The Edition. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
31. Mohamed, Naizak (2 December 2024). "PPM moves towards dissolution". Sun. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
32. "PNC membership drive underway with plans to dissolve PPM". Adhadhu. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
33. Osmanagic, Ameera (19 December 2024). "PPM officially being dissolved". The Edition. Retrieved 22 December 2024.

External links

• Progressive Party of Maldives official website
• Progressive Party Of Maldives