Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has strongly criticized President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih over the recent dismissal of government officials who defected from the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to Nasheed's emerging party, The Democrats.
Following the exodus of several MDP MPs and government officials to Nasheed's new party, the government has been terminating individuals in political posts, citing their critical stance towards the government.
Earlier on Monday, Environment Ministry's State Minister Ahmed Mujthaba and Tourism Ministry's Senior Executive, MDP activist Ali 'Smith' Hashim, were both sacked. Following these developments, Nasheed took to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with President Solih.
In his tweet, Nasheed asked if the President had no shame in dismissing those defecting from MDP. He said Smith's courage and lively temperament were the greatest symbol of the entire MDP. He referred to Smith as a "strong young man" who, like other young men, fought against injustice and worked hard to bring this government.
"Smith's courage will now be even stronger," Nasheed said.
Praising Mujthaba, Nasheed said Mujtaba was one of the strongest pillars of the entire reform movement and expressed his disbelief at President Solih.
"I wonder if President Solih is not ashamed," Nasheed said.
A senior government official told AVAS that the government had been receiving complaints about the dismissed political figures for weeks ahead of their dismissal.
"We decided to expel them because they left the party and have been actively criticizing the government," the official stated.
