A strong and united opposition effort for change cannot be seen in this year’s election, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday.
The president said on Adhadhu’s ‘Etherefuh’ program that in the past nearly all opposition parties formed a coalition (2018 presidential election) and worked to change the state of fear that prevailed. The people believed that a strong effort was necessary, he said.
"We don't see that picture at all today. The peace and order that we've been able to bring is the choice. People feel they can live peacefully. So, regardless of whether candidates come to the island, I think it's that they don't want to come out with that passion," the president said.
By the state of fear, the president was referring to the treatment of the opposition under former President Abdulla Yameen's administration.
The opposition at the time blamed alleged influence over the judiciary for the long sentences handed to nearly all political opponents of President Yameen.
Politicians jailed during Yameen's government included former President Mohamed Nasheed who was president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) at the time as well as Adhaalath Party (AP) President Imran Abdulla and Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim.
Yameen's half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was also jailed after he started working with the opposition.
Soldiers were deployed to parliament to enforce a legal change that unseated 12 MPs who joined the opposition.
Officers broke into the Supreme Court and arrested a chief justice and another Supreme Court justice after the top court ordered the release of jailed opposition leaders.
The opposition then was driven to form a coalition and fight for change, but the public now does not view the current government the same way, the president said. Those who experienced the state of affairs then would appreciate the importance of the present order and stability, he said.
Solih also cited the failure of previous governments to establish essential services on all inhabited islands as a reason to vote for him.
"Basic services haven't been provided in 2023 in the 21st century. You can't get drinking water. How many islands face water shortages in the northeast monsoon? Those who govern to develop the nation need to think about this, don't they," he said.
He listed water and sewerage projects on 141 islands, relocation of powerhouses and installation of new generators on more than 150 islands, upgrading of harbors on 125 islands and ambulances sent to 127 islands.
8000 calls
In the Adhadhu interview 72 hours before the election, Solih also said that he has personally called about 8000 people since winning the MDP's primary to secure the presidential ticket in January.
"I've been able to ask them individually what they want for the Maldives, the direction we need to go," he said.
The MDP manifesto was also formulated with public feedback, the president said. In terms of numbers, the president would have made 38 calls of two or three minutes each for about two hours a day.
"When he called and said this is the President, I found it hard to believe. He asked me how I was, whether I worked, exercised and stayed active. The president asked to try and be active. The president was on the call for two or three minutes," a person who received a call from Solih told Adhadhu.
She turned 65 years of age this month.
People of both genders and all ages were called and the president asked specific questions, such as education or employment-related questions for youth and whether single mothers received the state allowance and alimony payments, according to the campaign team.
The MDP campaign team said a few people expressed displeasure and the president noted their complaints for his second term manifesto.
