President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that any administration led by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), regardless of who the president is, could lead to destabilization and a rule marked by violence in the country.
Speaking at a campaign event in HDh. Hanimaadhoo, on Wednesday night, President Solih highlighted some unjust actions during the tenure of former president Abdulla Yameen. He recalled the imprisonment of numerous politicians under Yameen's rule and noted that journalists were jailed for what they wrote. As a result, the country's political stability chipped away, and citizens lived in a state of fear, said President Solih.
"The policies of the PPM, which were implemented by the previous government, will be mirrored by any PPM candidate who runs for office," President Solih said.
President Solih said the current government is able to carry out numerous projects in all islands of the Maldives because of the stability in the Maldives today. He contrasted the previous administration's record of executing only 79 projects in Haa Dhaalu Atoll with the current administration's accomplishment of 235 projects in the same region. He further revealed that over MVR 500 million had been invested in Haa Dhaalu Atoll by his administration as of the end of June this year.
The President also criticized his predecessor's strategy of concentrating development efforts in the capital city of Male', neglecting the growth of islands in the atolls. He said that the approach had a detrimental impact on the overall character of the nation.
The President made some pledges for Hanimaadhoo's development if he gets re-elected for a second term. These include the construction of a sports complex and 100 housing units, an expansion of the ongoing road construction project to encompass all island roads, and an enhancement of the local football grounds.
