The opposition PPM/PNC coalition has demanded that the Presidential Elections 2023 scheduled to be held on September 9th be postponed until the case of former President Abdulla Yameen is fully resolved.

President Yameen is serving a jail term after being found guilty of money laundering and bribery.

PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is currently in charge of the coalition, said in a tweet last night that an election where President Yameen is jailed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's power and influence would not be fair. Therefore, he called for postponing the presidential election until President Yameen gets justice.

President Yameen, who is serving an 11-year prison term in the Vaavu Aarah Corruption Case, has filed an appeal in the High Court. Even though hearings in the appeal case had begun, the case has been stalled for the time being due to the judges taking leave.

He is also facing charges of money laundering and accepting bribes in the Raa Atoll Fuggiri lease agreement through MMPRC. The case has a scheduled hearing for Today at the Criminal Court.

President Yameen has been charged with bribery and money laundering in the Fuggiri Case. while Ahmed Riza has been charged with facilitating a bribe, and Sun Construction and Sun Investment have been charged with money laundering.

Although the opposition coalition has repeatedly said that President Yameen can contest the upcoming presidential elections, the law says that President Yameen cannot contest the elections due to the current verdict.

However, the opposition coalition has maintained that President Yameen will be released by the High Court at the end of the appeal case.

With the Elections Commission giving 14 days to file nominations for the presidential election on Sunday, it is now certain that President Yameen's appeal will not be concluded in time for him to file his candidacy with the EC.