Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday called on the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition not to speak about or involve foreign countries in the campaign for the presidential election’s second round next Saturday.
Nasheed made the appeal at a press conference in parliament about a public referendum on the system of government due to be held on October 29.
“This is our election. It is the people of this country who will vote. We’re electing a president for this country. So I believe it would be a very good thing to not do that [talk about other countries].”
The current administration’s close ties with India have been the opposition’s main line of attack against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, alleging that Indian soldiers are stationed in the Maldives and that India has been endangering the country’s independence and sovereignty.
The failure to respond to the allegations and reveal the truth was the main reason for the defeat in the first round, President Solih said.
Since then, top government officials have been disclosing agreements signed with India and denying the presence of Indian soldiers in the country.
The MDP campaign has also been disclosing details about the development of Uthuru Thila Falhu and the two helicopters and Dornier aircraft donated by India. But the opposition has been disregarding the denials and repeating the claims.
