Gayoom to run for PPM presidency

30 years President of Maldives and Interim President of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has announced that he will be running for the presidency of the party in the PPM congress to be held in the upcoming month.

Former President Gayoom announced his decision to contest for the post of the President of the PPM at a press conference held yesterday at the head office of the PPM. He said that he will be running for the presidential post of the party. He said that the President of the party will be elected in the PPM’s congress to be held next month.

Gayoom said that the party was formed with the effort of a large number of people and they have been supporting him continuously to be their leader. He said that he intends to contest for the presidential post of the party to strengthen and develop the party.

Gayoom said that that his decision to contest for the leadership post of the party will not obstruct any youth from contesting for leadership posts. He said that PPM has many vacant posts including the posts of the Vice President, Council members and committee members. He said that many opportunities are open for the youth in the party.

 Meanwhile, in an interview to The Hindu, Gayoom said that although he preferred not to run, however “things change very frequently. So I am keeping my options open.”

“[If I run] it won’t be out of my choice, if ever, it will be out of compulsion. Because I feel I have served the country for 30 years and I feel it is up to other people [now],” he told The Hindu, in an exclusive interview at his office here.

His party, Progressive Party of Maldives, will have its congress in January, and in February a “primary” will be held. “Whoever wins the primary will be our candidate for President… [At present] we don’t have one [a candidate for presidency],” he said.

Asked if the current President Mohamed Waheed stood a chance to be nominated by PPM as its candidate for presidency, Gayoom said that this can only be decided after Dr.Waheed joins the PPM. “My choice would be the one who would win the primary in PPM. If Dr.Waheed joins the PPM and wins the primary, then he will be our choice. But there could be others,” he said.