MDP Vows to Hold Gov’t Accountable Despite Coup Accusations
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail affirmed the party will not resort to a coup and will continue holding the government accountable, despite threats of arrest.
These allegations arose after the Maldives Police Service launched an investigation into the Bank of Maldives’ (BML) recent, but quickly reversed, decision to impose limits on foreign transactions—a move some government officials allege was politically orchestrated.
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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, during a ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) meeting, described the incident as a “direct attempted coup.” He pointed to the timing of a press conference held by former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, which coincided with BML’s announcement, as evidence of a premeditated move by the opposition to destabilise his administration.
Addressing these allegations, Fayyaz Ismail stated that the MDP would never resort to unconstitutional means, such as a coup, to oust a government. Instead, he asserted that the party’s role is to hold the government accountable. “We are not a party that engages in coups,” Fayyaz declared during a press briefing, stressing that the MDP seeks to send a message to the government about its wrongdoings.
Fayyaz criticised Muizzu, accusing him of acting in a “thoughtless, stubborn and dictatorial manner” and suggested that the president was losing his grip on power. He also hinted at potential internal conflicts within the administration that might lead to a coup from within, rather than from external forces like the opposition. He further accused the government of trying to use the BML incident to deflect from its internal struggles.
Fayyaz Defends MDP Press Conference, Denies Link to Bank’s Actions
In response to the investigation into the BML’s transaction limit, Fayyaz defended the MDP’s press conference, asserting it was scheduled independently of the bank’s actions.
He dismissed allegations of a coup as “ridiculous” and claimed that such accusations only serve to reveal fault lines within the current administration. He also warned that the government’s handling of the situation could damage confidence in the Maldives’ financial system.
The BML’s decision to suspend foreign transactions sparked widespread public outcry, particularly from Maldivians living abroad and small businesses reliant on imported goods. The bank justified its actions by citing a significant discrepancy between the foreign currency it purchased and the higher demand from customers. However, the decision was quickly reversed after the Maldives Monetary Authority intervened.
MDP Calls for Police Chief’s Resignation Over Coup Investigation
Fayyaz also called for the resignation of Police Commissioner Ali Shujau, accusing him of yielding to political pressure from the government in launching the coup investigation.
He stated that the MDP would not be silenced by threats of arrest, insisting that the party would continue to expose what he described as the government’s “deceptions and lies.”
As tensions rise, both the government and the opposition remain locked in a battle of accusations, with each side pointing to the other as responsible for the growing unrest in the Maldives.
