President-elect Muizzu calls on MDP to operate as a ‘responsible’ opposition

President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has called on the incumbent administration’s main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), to operate as a responsible opposition party during his upcoming presidential term.

Muizzu, noting MDP will become an opposition party after November 17^th, said he welcomes the party to operate as a responsible opposition party.

“This is a democracy. I express gratitude for the congratulatory message extended to me in accordance with the fine characteristics of a democracy. As I also thank the president for meeting me yesterday, I urged [MDP] to prepare to operate as a responsible opposition,” he said.

He stressed the need for a government in a competent democracy to have responsible opposition. He described a responsible opposition as people who can criticize a government’s policies and bring out even better policies.

However, he appealed to be on the same boat with respect to matters of important national interest.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office on Monday, President Solih affirmed that MDP will remain as an opposition party to hold the government accountable.

He cited the current priority of the party as for the party to unite and strengthen itself.

MDP was the main opposition party from 2012 till 2018, when President Solih was elected through a coalition.