President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has spent Sunday meeting delegates from across the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), a day before the party begins its four-day Congress in Malé.
Muizzu, who serves as president of the PNC, held a series of meetings from morning into the evening with representatives from different sections of the party who have travelled to the capital for the Congress.
More than 1,300 delegates are expected to participate in the gathering, which will run from September 15 to 18 and include elections for several senior positions within the country’s largest political party.
Muizzu began his engagements by meeting presidents of PNC steering committees responsible for coordinating party activities across different constituencies.
He subsequently met representatives of the party’s Women’s Movement and Youth Movement, as well as PNC-affiliated council presidents and presidents of Women’s Development Committees attending the Congress.
Specially invited guests participating in the gathering also met with the President.
According to PNC, the meetings provided delegates with an opportunity to discuss preparations for the Congress directly with Muizzu while exchanging views on the party’s wider activities.
Delegates also raised feedback and concerns related to the upcoming gathering and other matters concerning the party, PNC said.
The party described the meetings as the first time a sitting Maldivian president who also leads a political party has held engagements of this nature with representatives from different party organs immediately ahead of a congress.
The meetings come as PNC completes final preparations for what it has described as the most comprehensive party congress held in the Maldives to date.
Delegates have been arriving in Malé from islands across the country ahead of Monday’s opening, with administrative and reception arrangements continuing through the weekend.
A major focus of the Congress will be elections to the party’s leadership and Council of Members.
Eight candidates are competing for six vice president positions, including Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and senior government officials.
Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam and Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed are among those seeking vice president positions.
The race also includes Chief Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, known as Mundhu, Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed, Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau and Local Government Authority CEO Mohamed Nimal.
Competition is also high further down the party structure, with 73 candidates seeking just 18 general seats on the Council of Members. Twenty-two candidates are competing for 10 seats reserved for women, while 13 are contesting seven youth seats.
Several leadership positions in the Women’s and Youth movements have already been decided without a vote after only one candidate applied for the respective positions.
PNC says its membership has now grown to 78,505 following an extensive nationwide recruitment drive, making it the largest political party in the country based on the party’s latest figures.
The Congress comes as PNC seeks to consolidate its internal structure following grassroots elections held across more than 130 islands in July.
With the ruling party also commanding a supermajority in the People’s Majlis, the leadership selected during this week’s Congress is expected to play a significant role in shaping PNC’s organisation and political strategy during the remainder of Muizzu’s current presidential term.
