Malé, Maldives – Deputy Speaker of Maldivian Parliament and MP of North Galolhu constituency, Eva Abdulla has said that Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) needs to adapt to the current situation in which the country is in due to Covid-19 pandemic and carry out their campaign.
While debating on the emergency motion filed by PPM parliamentarian, Maavashu constituency MP, Mohamed Saeed to parliament calling the government to provide equal opportunities for the Opposition as in the upcoming local council elections, MP Eva stated that PPM needed to understand that Maldives is dealing with a pandemic like how Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has.
We have also learnt to live with the current situation. I request PPM to adapt to the situation as well. Learn how to adapt to current situations
Deputy Speaker of Maldivian Parliament and MP of North Galolhu constituency, Eva Abdulla
MP Eva also added that MDP had officially launched their campaign efforts for the Local Council and WDC elections with the Rahvehi Fathis series which is carried out virtually where President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed and some cabinet ministers take part in to details the governments present efforts and future plans for decentralization and development in outlying islands.
Knowing that this is a pandemic, what we did was make a simple backdrop, created a Zoom link and have the party’s president (Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed) and chairperson (West Henveiru constituency MP Hassan Latheef) do virtual meetings with about 800 candidates
Deputy Speaker of Maldivian Parliament and MP of North Galolhu constituency, Eva Abdulla
MP Eva also stated that MDP did not get a fair and equal opportunity to campaign during the last local council elections held during PPM’s administration and that even with that situation, MDP took majority of the seats of councils throughout the country. She also told PPM leadership to talk about things with substance which even their members would accept.
MP Eva’s comments on the matter come while PPM has accused that there are candidates taking advantage of the guidelines given by HPA with the help of the government ministers, parliament members who have more influence in the government and other authorities of the government. PPM also stated that those candidates are getting the opportunity to travel from one atoll to another to meet the citizens without the observing mandatory quarantine duration of 10 days with high level government officials.
The local council election is scheduled to be held on the 10th of April. Candidates, especially the oppositions have heavily criticized the authorities for not allowing ease in traveling for campaigns, citing the difficulty in campaigning online.
