President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that he will not allow politicians to take the people back to the injustice, unrest, and chaos they have experienced in the past.
Speaking at a campaign rally at Noonu Manadhoo on Saturday night, President Solih strongly criticized his rivals, stating that they resorted to personal attacks in their campaigns. It is believed that the President is referring to remarks made by The Democrats' presidential candidate Ilyas Labeeb and his strong supporter, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
Referring to a pledge by the main opposition, PPM's presidential candidate Dr. Muizzu, where he said he would bring development to large islands and small islands alike, President Solih underlined that the rights of Maldivians shouldn't be contingent on an island's population size. He critiqued the stance and said such approaches have hindered the nation's progress and that the policies remain unchanged.
"This is the reason this country has not developed. Even today, they are repeating the same mantra, the same policies", said the president.
With regard to Maldives National Party (MNP)'s candidate Mohamed Nazim's promise to provide certain types of collateral-free loans, President Solih clarified that such loans are already accessible.
The President then warned against some presidential candidates' aspirations to wield power through force, leading the country down a path of injustice and fear. He asserted his commitment to maintaining a political dialogue while preserving the existing policies of impartiality among islands and the freedom of the press.
"Speak politically. We can digest it. We will continue to implement the current policy with no discrimination among islands. By giving freedom to journalists," he said.
Reflecting on the August 12, 2003, incident when government atrocities occurred during a reformist gathering at Republic Square in Male', President Solih recalled the transformation from that tumultuous day to the present state of relative peace. He reiterated his determination to prevent a regression to such a period of chaos and emphasized the need to restore calm.
The President said the main responsibility of stabilizing the country lies in the hands of political leaders. However, he said some are still living in the past and continue to dwell on it. He said his decision to seek a second term stems from his desire to finish what he started during the current tenure.
"I have reached the highest point of my journey, and now my focus is solely on completing the tasks I initiated. I am determined to bring them to fruition within the upcoming five years," he affirmed.
