Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim has said President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih must resign if all JP appointees in the current government were to be dismissed.
JP is part of the current ruling coalition. Despite an invitation by President Solih to continue the alliance into the next presidential election, JP has decided to field its own candidate in the upcoming election and lead its own coalition.
Following JP's decision to contest the election, President Solih's supporters have been calling on the government to remove government officials appointed on JP slots from their posts. Some MPs of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have supported the sentiments.
Gasim responded to the MPs on Wednesday, stating that the current coalition was established for a five-year term. Therefore, he believes JP members in government positions can only be dismissed after the expiry of the term, said Gasim. If they were to be dismissed that way, then President Solih himself must resign, Gasim. He also said that he does not believe that it is shameful for JP members to remain in office as per the coalition agreement.
"The government slots given to JP were not given from anyone's inheritance," he said.
