President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that he has confidence in the ruling coalition despite disagreements within the coalition.
The ruling coalition consists of four partners, including main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Jumhooree Party, Maldives Reform Movement and Adhaalath Party. The coalition was established ahead of the 2018 presidential election, which saw then former president, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom defeated in his bid for a second term as president. The government has been run collectively by a coalition partnership.
However, several government slots held by coalition partners have been lost over the past two years. After the successful conclusion of the presidential election, the four leaders of the respective coalition parties – former president Mohamed Nasheed from MDP, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom from MRM, leader of Jumhooree Party Qasim Ibrahim and Adhaalath Party leader Imran Abdulla held a meeting during which it was decided that all coalition leaders would meet once a month to collectively discuss government-related matters. However, the meetings were not held as planned, and the president has been facing mounting pressure by the ruling party to break off the coalition.
In an interview given to India’s The Hindu, Maldives’ President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said despite the inevitable disagreements and disgruntlements among the coalition, it remains united on realizing the pledges made to the people of the Maldives during the election.
“There are inevitably disagreements and disgruntlements, but we remain united on what matters – ensuring the establishment of the ‘Jazeera Raajje’ [island nation] we pledged to the people of the Maldives when they elected me as President in 2018. We have been able to maintain the coalition and have overcome immense challenges by working together. I am confident that we will be able to resolve all such issues with the dialogue and goodwill that brought us all together in the first place,” said President Solih.
Referring to the work being done by the government to fight corruption, President Solih added that addressing corruption and strengthening the country’s independent institutions and other mechanisms devoted to holding the government accountable is one of the highest priorities of the administration. He assured that the state would not hesitate to investigate any individual, including senior officials, suspected of wrongdoing.
