Holhudhoo MP Ali Mohamed joins PPM

Holhudhoo MP Ali Mohamed (Alibe) has joined the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Speaker Maseeh Mohamed has announced at the parliament sitting today.

MP Ali Mohamed was elected to the 18th parliament on a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket. The time he signed the membership form to join PPM is unclear.

MP Ali Mohamed was a senior figure in President Maumoon Abdul Gaayoom's administration. He was elected to the 17th parliament in 2009 on a Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) ticket, but moved to the opposition MDP in April last year.

The move by MP Ali Mohamed brings PPM’s strength in parliament to 41 MPs. An additional 5 MPs also belong to PPM's coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

A total of 26 MPs were elected on MDP tickets to the 18th parliament in March. With the move of Thimarafushi MP in late March and Holhudhoo MP Ali Mohamed to PPM, the opposition party’s numbers in parliament has now fallen to 24. The 18th parliament has 85 MPs.