Fayyaz Criticises Gov’t Over Political Appointments and Policy Decisions

The Chairman of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Fayyaz Ismail, has criticised the government of prioritising its own interests through political appointments and its approach to key national policies.

Speaking at a rally on Thursday, Fayyaz alleged that the administration was using public funds to sustain a growing number of political appointees, placing an undue financial burden on citizens.

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“The state is reaching into the pockets of the common people and emptying them to appoint people to political positions,” he said.

The MDP chairman also took aim at the government’s decision to increase duties on tobacco, arguing that such measures should be implemented only after proper public consultation and transparency. Fayyaz accused President Dr Mohamed Muzzu of making impulsive decisions on national policy without adhering to constitutional processes.

“The president is tweeting based on what he saw at the time—a household conversation—to determine the policies of the country. This is not a power granted to the president but to the state by the constitution,” he said.

He emphasised the need for public consultation on decisions that significantly affect citizens’ lives, stating that unilateral policy announcements undermine democratic principles. “The president believes there should be no political party. Therefore, he cannot announce it in a tweet and submit it to a locked parliament. The constitution does not allow that,” Fayyaz added.

He reaffirmed the MDP’s commitment to defending the constitution, which he said was achieved through significant effort and sacrifice. “We will do whatever it takes to uphold the constitution. Many Maldivians have made sacrifices and lost their lives to secure the constitution we have today,” he said.

Fayyaz further criticised the administration’s economic management, claiming it has led to widespread hardship in sectors such as fishing, construction, and small businesses.”The economy is collapsing, and the livelihood of the common people is being affected,” he stated. “Hotels, cafés, and street shops are closing. Even if money is printed, this should not be allowed to happen. People elect a president to protect them from such crises.”

He accused those in power of opposing the introduction of the existing constitution and pledged that the MDP would continue its efforts to safeguard it and advocate for greater public involvement in policymaking.