Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed deep concerns about the direction of the current government, warning that it is heading towards a dictatorship by completely destroying the decentralization system.
Speaking at the MDP's "Decentralization Relations" conference in Kulhudhuffushi on Sunday, President Solih said the entire decentralization system would collapse with the major changes being brought by the government. The PPM-PNC has always undermined the decentralization system whenever they are leading the country, he said.
"An Atolls Ministry has now been created. From day one [of this administration], the powers are being stripped away. This has never been the MDP’s approach to developing the nation,” he said.
President Solih said all the work initiated by the MDP government in all parts of the country has come to a halt under this administration. He also accused the councils of being pressured and their autonomy being undermined. The MDP will do everything possible to defend the decentralization system, he said.
President Solih went on to state that today's administration ignores the peoples’ sentiments, and does everything for its own interest. While there is a democracy in the Maldives, it will not be easy for a government that wants to act dictatorially to rule in such an environment, he said.
"Dictatorship is the direction the current government is heading towards. Democracy is not just about holding elections, it is much more than that," he said.
Heavily criticizing the government, Solih raised questions about the path the government was heading down, and the work it was doing. He said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made unrealistic presidential pledges to come to power without doing any calculations or planning. The truth of these matters are being revealed today, and this is something the MDP should think deeply about, he said.
President Solih also pointed out the economic fallout from the government’s strained relations with neighboring counties. He accused said President Dr. Muizzu of speaking lies about neighboring countries while in the opposition. The Maldives greatly suffered the consequences of these actions, and continues to suffer even today, he said.
"The damage it did to the whole country and our people is incalculable," he said.
Indirectly referring to public comments by some government officials regarding India, President Solih said it resulted in the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives dropping by 40 percent over the past eight or nine months. This resulted in a loss of about MVR 3.2 billion, he calculated.
"Who will take the responsibility for this? They have to be held responsible. We keep talking about how the state has no money. However, these are the damage that has been caused in the past eight or nine months alone," he said.
President Solih added that every time the PPM-PNC comes to power, the people and investors are in a state of fear. Therefore, today, with the MDP as the opposition, there are challenges in raising funds for the party, he acknowledged.
President Solih reminded the government that the MDP would work to achieve reform via practice. He also asked the MDP members to work hard instead of simply watching matters unfold.
