Malé, Maldives – The President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the government holds responsibility in losing the Malé city mayoral seat and council majority.
The President said that the government since it is of the ruling party MDP holds responsibility in losing strong holds of MDP in this mid-term election. However, President Solih said that MDP won 49% which is higher than any recorded mid-term election.
The President in his press conference today said that the government needs to assess and meet the needs of the Malé citizens. He highlighted the issues of housing, delays in corruption investigations as main concerns of the Malé constituents.
President Solih said that the Sinamalé flat, labour quarters of companies and some other flats in Malé are desolate and uninhabitable. The government’s plan is to rebuilt these housing flats and the Housing Ministry is working to make this happen.
As for the delay in corruption cases such as the ventilator scandal, President Solih said that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) and Maldives Police need to complete the cases, either ending in prosecutions or ending the case with no issues found.
Answering press questions the President brought up losing fishery concentrated regions in the Maldives, Ihavandhoo, GDh and GA atolls, and said that the Fisheries policies are long term and the strategies will come to fruition. He added that some changes were not received well among fishermen.
The President said that the mid-term elections in any country is for the government to understand the feelings of the constituents and while strong holds faced losses, MDP won tremendously in the Local Council Election. As for the losses, the government will asses what can be improved and make adjustments.
President Solih said he sees no reason why MDP will not win the next Presidential election.
