MALE, September 5 (HNS) – Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom today unveiled his new party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) but remained mum on contesting in the 2013 presidential election. Gayoom, who resigned from Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) yesterday, told journalists that he chose the name as the party would work for the current and the future generations. “The word ‘progressive’ refers to the movement which aims to bring changes to the country through the government. It means that the party always aims to bring development to the country and the people of Maldives,” he said. Asked by reporters that his efforts to create Progressive Party would mark his return to politics, Gayoom said he announced his decision on January 25, 2010 to step away from politics because he had full confidence that DRP would be run according to certain principles. “But the reality is that until yesterday I held the highest position of one of the major political parties in the Maldives. How can one claim that the person, who held the highest position of a political party, wasn’t involved in politics?” he said. “Today, I’m forced to create a new political party because of the situation in the country; because I want to find another way for the Maldives.” The former President said members who do not follow the leadership’s orders would not be expelled from his new party, as it would not promote personal interests. Gayoom stressed that a candidate for the 2013 presidential election will be elected through a primary. “By the grace of God, this party will win the 2013 presidential election. But today, we don’t know who would represent the party in the presidential election. The candidate, who will be elected in a democratic manner through a free and fair primary, will represent this party in the 2013 presidential election,” he said. “I believe that the candidate will be elected as the President of the Maldives by a broad margin in 2013.”