MDP Accuses Gov’t of Election Influence Through MoU Signings

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the main opposition party, has raised allegations against the current administration, claiming that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are being hastily signed to kickstart new projects with the intention of swaying the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for Sunday.

During a press conference held yesterday, Ahmed Easa, the parliamentary campaign spokesperson for the MDP, asserted that the government’s recent announcements regarding the commencement of major projects and the signing of MoUs are strategically timed to influence the election outcome and mislead the public.

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Easa suggested that while MoUs are being touted, they are primarily being executed merely for display purposes. He elaborated, highlighting that MoUs typically lack the legal binding characteristic found in formal agreements, making them easily revocable without incurring any financial penalties.

Moreover, Easa contended that the validity of these MoUs would likely expire once the election concluded, implying that the proposed projects might not progress beyond the campaigning period.

Addressing specific instances, Easa cited the case of an island designated for the development of a fish processing facility in Dhaalu Atoll, Maadheli, alleging that the same island had already been allocated for the construction of a resort.

He questioned the sincerity of the government’s intentions, suggesting that if the fish processing facility was genuinely planned, proper due diligence would have been conducted to ensure that the allocated island was available for such development.

Additionally, Easa accused the current administration of orchestrating lavish inauguration ceremonies for projects initiated by the previous government, which have since been halted, in an attempt to portray them as new initiatives coinciding with the election period.

These allegations underscore the intensifying political climate in the Maldives as the parliamentary election approaches, with opposition parties closely scrutinizing the actions of the ruling government.