Fight to sustain family power tightens within PPM

With the no-confidence motion against Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed now set in place, the fight within the government on who would succeed Jameel as VP has gone public.

Texts messages within the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives verified by some local media have surfaced and show fiery words exchanged within the two VP hopefuls, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb and eldest son of former President Maumoon, MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon.

The texts exchanged show Adheeb throwing Faris fire for not attending the vote on Amending the Constitution, which would pave the way for Adheeb to be VP.

The first amendment which redefined the age of Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates saw the age be lowered to 30 and set a limit on 65 years.

This was seen as a move to bring Adheeb to the post and is described by the government as empowering the youth.

In the texts Adheeb accused Faris of not committing to the party mandate of empowering youth and stated that Faris let down President Yameen by not attending the vote.

Faris is seen to respond to the texts by saying that he is fully commuted to youth empowerment, especially educated youth.

Prior to the vote, a text message between party leader, former President Maumoon Abdul Qayoom and PG Leader Ahmed Nihan circulated also in the media which confirmed Maumoon's displeasure for the Bill.

Speaking at the Opposition gathering last week, MP Ahmed Mahloof who was kicked out of PPM said that the vote has created a ripple of distress within the party.

Mahloof said he was a product of PPM and the Logo of PPM was of his, thus, the events during the vote was very clear to him stating the split within the party was immense.

Mahloof said he hoped that the split within PPM would lead to a solution to the current political crisis the country is facing.

MDP Chairman Ali Waheed, who was also initially a member of Maumoon’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party tweeted that the split within PPM was quite evident and said he would not be surprised if Maumoon defected from PPM to form a new party.