Pres Solih downplays rumors of conflict with Speaker Nasheed

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that there is no basis to the rumors of animosity existing between himself and Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

Rumors of recent friction between the two leaders grew louder during the past couple weeks, with President Solih expressing disapproval that the Speaker had shared a confidential report on the murder of Miniwan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan with the Parliamentary Group leaders without his consent. Nasheed also recently criticized the government stating that the government was moving at a slow pace.

Refuting the allegations at press conference held Thursday, President Solih said there were no issues between himself and the former president, and said they were merely false rumors being propagated by a group.

"There are no issues between me and President Naheed. There are no problems. They are false rumors being spread by a group. Nothing has prompted any conflict [with Nasheed]"', said President Solih.

However, President Solih responded to Nasheed's claim that the government is unable to keep up with the parliament's pace.

President Solih said while believes the government has undertaken several efforts to efficient run the administration, no other government has cooperated with the parliament as much as the current administration since the new constitution came into effect. President Solih said a record number of ministers and state-owned company heads have shared information with the parliament during the current administration.

"It is clear if you take a look at the parliament's history. The number of cabinet ministers and heads of SOE's who presented themselves to the parliament is a record number. The cooperation given to the parliament by the government is extensive", said the President.

Rumors of hostility between President Solih and Nasheed first propped up when main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was in discussion on whom to support for the post of Parliament Speaker. At the time, senior members of MDP who supported Nasheed heavily criticized President Solih and the government.