The joint senate of PPM and PNC has voted against boycotting the election despite a directive from PPM leader Abdullah Yameen seeking their view on a potential boycott.
Yameen's appeal for the boycott came at the back of a Supreme Court ruling against the former President, who is serving an 11-year jail sentence after he filed a case at the country's top court following the Election Commission's rejection of his candidacy.
Supreme Court ruled that Yameen failed to pay a fine of USD 5 million as part of his verdict from the Criminal Court within the 6 months given and that this now constitutes an undischarged decreed debt.
Members of the joint senate debated about the directive from the former President and it was at times heated with even police officers called to the PPM's office to calm the situation.
In the end, the debate was put to a vote with 126 senators present. A total of 67 senators voted against boycotting the elections while 45 voted 'yes' to a boycott.
Some senators abstained from the vote.
Speaking to the media about the senate meeting, PPM Secretary General Mohamed Tholal said that since the former President can be freed when the opposition comes into power, the senate decided against boycotting the election and conveyed its recommendation to Yameen.
He added that the whole senate unanimously agreed to do anything for Yameen's sake.
