Media reports have surfaced that ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is to amend their articles of association in order to remove former President Mamoon Abdul Qayyoom from his position as Party President.
It has been reported that this motion would be filed in the next Congress of the Party. It has also been reported that the motion would include a motion to instate President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Qayyoom as the Party’s President. Additionally, it has been reported that once President Maumoon is removed from his position, he will be given an honorary position in the Party.
A senior official of PPM had confirmed the motion and added that the Party has initiated work to amass support for the motion.
He said that the present articles of association states that President Yameen is an advisor to the Party with no active role in enacting Party policy and management.
The official also said that the motion would require two thirds vote of those taking part in the Party’s National Congress and that the Party had begun to work to amass that number of vote and prepare for the Congress.
PPM’s articles of association currently state that a candidate who had contested a Presidential election on the Party ticket and won the election, that person would remain as an advisor to the Party so long as that person remains a member of the Party.
Clause 57 (b) states that “PPM’s advisor is the most honorable position in the Party after that of the Party’s President”. Additionally, Clause 57 (c) states that “the Party’s advisor has no active role in enacting Party policy and the daily management of the Party’s affairs”. The subsequent clause states that the “advisor has full discretion in offering advice and instruction to Party President on various issues”.
This motion comes at a time when former President Maumoon had voiced his displeasure on the amendment to change the age criteria for both President and Vice President. Additionally, he has expressed his concerns over the policy enactment of the Party, especially in the Parliament by MPs, citing that the Party Council was not consulted in many of the major issues. His son, Farish Maumoon, recently elected to the Dhiggaru Constituency seat, had not participated in the vote that changed the age criteria for the two highest posts in the country.
PPM to amend articles of association to remove Maumoon as President
