PPM ordered to vacate office premises

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has been ordered to vacate its office by the building's owner on Friday evening, November 24.

The party's office is operated at Henveiru Hurafaa, in front of the Artificial Beach.

The building's owner, a supporter of former President Abdulla Yameen, demanded the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to vacate the office, stating that Yameen wished to operate an office in the building. The office was initially rented out to the party at his request.

On Friday evening, Yameen's advocate and former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed had announced Yameen had resigned from PPM, which he lead, owing to disputes with the leadership.

Jameel further announced Yameen has begun works to form a new political party.

While PPM has been ordered to vacate the office building, the party earlier announced its senate meeting scheduled at the office on Saturday evening, November 25.

However, following the recent development, the party's leadership have informed its senators that an alternate venue for the meeting would be later informed.

Jameel, who is representing Yameen both legally and publicly, said on a program on Channel 13, that the former president's decision to exit PPM and form a new party was difficult, but necessary owing to the coalition's leadership distancing themselves from Yameen.

Jameel also added that the recently inaugurated President, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who had strongly advocated for the release of Yameen during his presidential campaign, was no longer returning the former president's calls. He added that the leadership of PPM had betrayed the trust of Yameen.

PPM was founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom after exiting Dhivehi-Rayyithunge Party (DRP). After Yameen allied with PPM, disputes among the half brothers escalated resulting in the eventual removal of Maumoon from his own party while Yameen took its control.