Former President and Interim President of PPM Maumoon Abdul Gayoom: The party has decided that the notion of early elections would not be entertained even in the proposed high-level sit-down. FILE PHOTO
Pro-government Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) yesterday expressed belief that the All Party Talks had not failed due to lack of stature or competence of the participants.
In a statement, PPM stated that if opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ceases its ongoing street protests and restores stability, the All Party Talks could resume focused on moving towards an early presidential election. But the sincere initiative must be taken by MDP, statement stressed.
PPM’s statement came at a time when there has been upsurge in calls for a high-level political leaders’ sit-down to recommence the stalled All Party Talks and bring an end to the ongoing political strife in the Maldives.
The statement also noted that despite PPM’s stand that the regime change had been constitutional; an Inquiry Commission had been established and later reconstituted to the requests of international partners and MDP to facilitate the persistent questions over the legitimacy of the transfer of power.
PPM also stressed that the party is not of belief that while the Commission’s investigation is ongoing the demands for early elections by only MDP should be met by the resignation of the President or amendments to the constitution.
“PPM council members’ majority had decided that it wasn’t in the best interest of the people to back an early election to succumb to the demands of a single party with no clear majority of the people and revise the constitution,” statement read.
The statement has come at a time when Interim Vice President of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Umar Naseer had said that the party council has decided not to talk about early elections and that even the interim President of PPM, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is forbidden to bring up the subject. Umar further added that even the leader of the party is not authorized to mention early elections unless the PPM council decides otherwise.
PPM also said that the party had joined the All Party Talks with high hopes and added that “all the parties have continuously urged MDP to cease the illegitimate street protests.”
In the statement, PPM expressed disappointment that MDP has so far refused to heed such calls of the its political rivals and the Commonwealth and other international partners had failed to act even after the issue had been forwarded to them in order to put an end to MDP’s street activities.
1 comment
More
0 Comments
To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or .