The main opposition coalition has voted against boycotting the presidential election after the rejection of former President Abdulla Yameen's candidacy.
Former President Yameen requested the leadership of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) to boycott the election after the Supreme Court upheld the decision by the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) to reject his candidacy form, as he is serving an 11-year prison sentence. He requested the PPM leadership to boycott the election if the Senate finds that his electoral rights have been undermined.
Subsequently, the PPM and People's National Congress (PNC) held a meeting with 126 senate members to vote on the issue. The motion to boycott the election was rejected with 46 votes in favour and 67 votes against. Some of the members who voted against boycotting the election were close associates of Yameen.
The meeting also became contentious after some claimed that Yameen had requested that the opposition choose the Mayor of Male' City Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as a backup candidate in case he is unable to run in the election. PNC chose Mayor Muizzu as its candidate and he has since submitted his candidacy form.