Opposition responds to presidential address: Government failed to deliver pledges, lost peoples’ trust

The minority leader of the Parliament, MP for Hoarafushi Ahmed Saleem said that the government has failed to fulfil pledges and now lost the trust of citizens.

Following the annual presidential address, the Parliament grants an opportunity to the minority party to respond to it. Hence, in the Parliament sitting on Wednesday, March 9, the minority party leader gave the response.

“A political address, not a presidential address”

In his response, MP Saleem from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) described the presidential address as a “political address”, and added that it did not adequately reflect the current status of the country.

“The President gave a political address in the name of a presidential address, in 2022. Most of the things spoken about in the address are just empty words that cannot produce any results, lack planning, and lack any long-term vision. Fictional talk. It was irresponsible.”

He further said that the government had failed to deliver most of its pledges, as it nears four years into office, leading to loss of public trust.

In addition to this, MP Saleem said that acts of corruption were rampant and going unchecked within the government.

“People have lost their trust in the government. They are disheartened. [The government] said that there was zero tolerance for corruption but the state has become a big nest of corruption. The standard of living for the citizens are getting lower day by day. The promised wealth is not going into the pockets of people,” said Saleem.

“Reform JSC”

Speaking about the charges against PPM leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Saleem fired heavy criticism at the judiciary, accusing the government of directly influencing the courts.

“People are very concerned with the government trying to find new ways to imprison President Yameen, despite his innocence being proven at the Supreme Court. Using political influence to change the schedule of his trial is intimidation. This is ruining judiciary under the guise of reform.”

He criticized the government’s failure to reform the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), despite it being one of their electoral pledges.

“Government vowed to free JSC from political influence. But almost four years to the government, instead of changing the composition of JSC and freeing from political influence, we see them taking judiciary on the path to ruin with their devious plans.”

‘Flame’ of multiparty democracy being put out

Speaking further, the MP criticized many of the government policies.

Noting that despite coming into power in the name of democracy, most of the government’s actions were undemocratic. He accused the government of silencing the voice of the opposition and providing no room for opposing political activities.

“Instead of creating an environment of healthy competition for the opposition as per the principles of multiparty democracy, the government has been trying to silence the competition and lock them up. This is a cowardly act by the government, foreign to principles of democracy”

The MP added that the government headed towards a dictatorship and was constricting freedom of speech, using the police to restrict the opposition.

“Misusing Parliament majority to try and change the law to remain in power are features foreign to a democracy. With cunning schemes of the government coalition, the ‘flame of multiparty democracy' has been put out.”

Will call for ‘India military out’, cannot be stopped

Voicing support for the opposition coalition’s ‘India Out’ campaign, MP Saleem alleged that a large area of Maldives was under the control of the Indian military.

“There are Indian soldiers in areas like Uthuru Thilafalhu, Hanimaadhoo and Addu City. Major areas of Maldives are under the Indian military. Previously, the government was maintaining that there were no Indian military personnel in Maldives. But later said that there are military personnel, but they are unarmed.”

In addition to this, Saleem said the opposition will continue its campaign protesting the presence of the Indian military in Maldives, despite efforts by the government and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to put an end to it.

Moreover, he noted that there cannot be any foreign military presence in Maldives without the permission of the people and Parliament. He added that otherwise, it would enable Maldives to become a spy hub.

“Indian military will have to leave Maldives. No room can be given for any foreign military in this nation. You cannot stop calls for ‘India military out’.”

“Maldivians will do everything necessary to defend this county’s independence, despite the threats or jail threats.”