Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has awarded tickets to 450 individuals to contest in the local council elections.
PPM stated 450 individuals have guaranteed the party ticket to contest in the elections, while another 1,146 candidates would contest for the remaining tickets through a primary.
Following a council meeting held by PPM, the party has formulated the conditions for forming a coalition with another party in the upcoming elections. As such, PPM states the party will only form a coalition with parties which are not represented in the current administration and advocates for the release of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.
Speaking at the council meeting, Parliamentarian Ahmed Shiyam said the main goal of the party is to release Yameen, adding success in the local council elections will be a major step towards achieving the goal. He called on all candidates contesting in the primary to work together after the primary to win the election for PPM.
Meanwhile, many council members of the party who spoke at the meeting spoke in favour of contesting the election without a coalition, noting the party does not wish to repeat mistakes made in the past.