The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) will begin its four-day Congress tomorrow, with a crowded field of candidates competing for key positions in the party’s leadership.
One of the most closely watched contests will be for the six vice president positions, where eight senior political figures have entered the race.
The candidates are Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed, Chief Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, widely known as Mundhu, Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha, Local Government Authority CEO Mohamed Nimal and Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed.
The Congress will run from September 15 to 18, with PNC describing it as the most comprehensive and exemplary congress organised by a political party in the Maldives to date.
Competition is also high for seats on the party’s Council of Members.
Twenty-two candidates are contesting for 10 seats reserved for women, while 13 candidates are competing for seven youth seats.
The biggest field is for the 18 general member positions, with 73 PNC members seeking election to those seats.
Several other positions have already been decided without a vote after the number of applicants either matched the available positions or only one candidate came forward for a particular post.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Heena Waleed has secured the presidency of the PNC Women’s Movement without a contest.
Aminath Hussain Shareef secured the vice presidency of the Women’s Movement, while Aminath Naseeha secured the position of secretary and Aminath Shizleen the position of treasurer.
In the party’s Youth Movement, Ibrahim Abaan Abdul Latheef secured the presidency, with Hassan Shaheed taking the vice president position.
Ismail Azmee secured the position of Youth Movement secretary, while Mohamed Rifaau secured the treasurer post.
PNC said final preparations are now underway for the Congress, with administrative and reception arrangements being completed as delegates and party members from islands across the country arrive in Malé.
The gathering is expected to bring together more than 1,300 delegates and will be one of the largest internal political events held by the ruling party since President Dr Mohamed Muizzu assumed office.
Muizzu, who serves as PNC president, has also been meeting party representatives arriving in the capital ahead of the Congress, including leaders of island and constituency-level party branches.
The Congress follows internal elections held by PNC across more than 130 islands in July, when thousands of positions within the party’s grassroots structure were put up for election.
The party has also carried out an extensive membership drive in recent months as it seeks to expand its organisation nationwide.
PNC says its membership has now reached 78,505, making it the largest political party in the Maldives based on the party’s latest figures.
The figure represents a significant increase in membership ahead of the Congress, although newly submitted membership forms must go through the Elections Commission’s verification process before being reflected in the official political party registry.
PNC also holds a dominant position in Parliament after winning a supermajority in the 2024 parliamentary election.
With several Cabinet ministers, MPs and senior government officials now competing for positions within the party, this week’s Congress will determine much of PNC’s senior leadership as the ruling party prepares for the next phase of Muizzu’s presidency.
