PPM postpones parliamentary primary

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has postponed the party’s parliamentary primary, which was earlier announced for Sunday, 2 February.

PPM’s Secretary General Mohamed Zuhair said before holding the primary, party’s governing council needs to finalized the list of primary candidates and also the incumbent MPs to receive tickets without having to stand for the primary. The election will hopefully be held before the end of the week, Zuhair said.

“We postponed because there were some things that need to be decided by the council. We are trying to start council meetings tomorrow.

“Sitting MPs also have a fifty-fifty chance. The council meeting will decide if they can compete without facing the primary,” Zuhair said.

Parliament constituencies will increase from 77 to 85 in the upcoming term. A total of 150 PPM members have applied for 49 seats, for which the party will field candidates through the ruling coalition. The remaining seats will be contested by coalition partners Jumhoory Party and Maldives Development Alliance.