Progressive Congress: The only way to save this nation is to vote for us

The coalition made up of the Maldives’ two opposition parties PPM and PNC, known as the Progressive Congress Coalition, has urged support for PPM in the upcoming Local Council Elections, claiming that voting for the party’s candidates was the only way to save Maldives.

Progressive Congress Coalition has announced that PPM will contend for all seats at the upcoming Local Council Elections – scheduled to be held on April 4, 2020.

It has opened candidacy for internal primaries.

Speaking at the Progressive Congress Coalition’s press conference on Thursday, PPM deputy leader Dr. Mohamed Muizzu described the upcoming elections as a “patriotic jihad”.

He said that the elections presented an opportunity to bring order to Maldives, and must be made used of responsibly.

“If we want our nation back, if we want to save this nation’s independence and sovereignty, then there’s only one option. That is the ideology which supports President Yameen and supports PPM,” said Muizzu.

He urged the people to vote for PPM’s candidates, even though members of their own families may be running in the elections as candidates from other political parties.

“Acknowledge PPM’s candidate as someone tasked with patriotic duty, with the mission of saving this nation, and do your patriotic duty,” said Muizzu.

Candidacy for PPM’s primaries will close on January 7, and the primaries will be held on January 24.

Only those registered as members of the party by January 17 will be eligible to vote in the primaries.

Local Council Election, scheduled for April 4, will see the Maldivian people elect 980 councilors for island councils, atoll councils and city councils. The recent legislative amendment to reserve one-third of council seats for women means 384 of the councilors will be women.