President Abdullah Yameen has stated that the ideology of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) cannot be attributed to one single person.

Speaking in the ceremony held to open the new premises of PPM’s Yameen faction, a stone’s throw from the old premises, President Yameen said the Party’s ideology was not based on one person and cannot be described as such. He said the ideology can only be translated by the Council and Parliament Members of the Party.

                “We’re saying that our views are our ideology. That ideology is not based on one person,” President Yameen.

He said the Party laws were the byproduct of a team, refuting that one person can translate the laws or claim ownership of the said laws.

                “There is no single individual can claim these laws were made by that person and translate those laws best,” he said.

He made the claims, referring to PPM President and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The former President, also half-brother to President Yameen, had constantly and consistently claimed that PPM was being govern against Party laws and that PPM’s ideology was that of President Gayoom.

President Yameen claimed that he had been fundamental in forming PPM, having taken part in many trips to the islands to bring in members to the Party.

                “I had worked on an individual basis to gear up the Party. Not just securing funds, but also trips to the islands to bring in members,” President Yameen said.

President Yameen asserted that the Party has become stronger after Civil Court handed over the Party ownership to him from President Maumoon, adding that today, PPM was a Party of the public. In spite of his assertions, many continue state that the decision was illegal and unethical.

The Party split into two factions, following serious disagreements between the two brothers. The older Gayoom had taken to criticize the Government and its policies, calling for independence of independent institutions. President Maumoon had on many times claimed that the Party was being run against the Party laws, a claim denied by the current President.