Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has taken the decision to form new political party. The former President made the announcement on behalf of the Maumoon Reform Movement at a press conference held at Salt Cafe’ today. President Maumoon announced that the name of the new political party is the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM). He said that efforts to collect membership registration forms as well as other arrangements have already begun.

While the former President has begun efforts for the formation a new political party, this will be the third political party spearheaded by President Maumoon. President Maumoon had previously led the formation of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, (DRP) as well as Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom spoke to the press and said that the decision was taken to form a new political party while issues with PPM are still pending at court. He said the reason for this was owed to the lengthy waiting period in awaiting a Supreme Court decision regarding the case with PPM. He noted that it is currently not known how long it would take for the issues with PPM to be resolved.

Of the cases in court, while the Elections Commission had declared PPM’s Congress as invalid, the Supreme Court had overturned the ruling yesterday. As such, President Maumoon expressed his hope that the current cases concerning the ownership of PPM in court will also be concluded similarly.

President Maumoon reported that attorneys had advised that the issue of PPM’s ownership is similar to that the the congress of the political party. He added that as such, it is highly unlikely that both cases would be concluded differently by the Supreme Court.

The former President reported that there have been no decisions taken in the case where ownership of PPM is granted to him by the Supreme Court. President Maumoon also reported that the matter will be decided following a decision by the Supreme Court.