The Noonu Kendhikulhudhoo council has expressed concern over President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s alleged campaigning during an official visit to the island last Thursday.
The Kendhikulhudhoo council said in a statement that President Muizzu misused state resources after visiting the island in the guise of an official trip.
During the President’s visit, he politicized a function organized by the council without its consent by seeking support in his speech for government candidates contesting in the parliamentary elections.
“The Kendhikulhudhoo council made all the arrangements when we were told that the President’s visit was an official visit. However, at some point during the function, the direction of the speeches made by President Muizzu and some members of his cabinet became speeches at a political podium seeking support for candidates from the President’s party contesting in the Majlis elections,” the Kendhikulhudhoo council said.
The use of government offices and councils is expressly prohibited by article 19 of law number 11/2008 (general elections law), the Kendhikulhudhoo council said.
Moreover, as the event that took place with the council’s participation appeared to have been organized for the purpose of campaigning, the Kendhikulhudhoo council condemned the government’s actions.
“In the council’s view, public trust in state institutions would be severely undermined as a result of such actions with the misuse of state resources and state institutions,” the Kendhikulhudhoo council said.
The Kendhikulhudhoo council also apologized to the public for the politicization of the President’s meeting with residents during his visit.
The council could not accept any party acting outside the bounds of the law, the Kendhikulhudhoo council added, appealing against repeating such actions in the future.
After the council issued the statement, the Local Government Authority (LGA) sent a letter and ordered its retraction, the Kendhikulhudhoo council told Adhadhu on Sunday morning.
The council does not have the authority to release such statements in relation to the President's visit, the LGA letter stated, ordering the council to retract the statement.
Some other councils have also expressed concern over President Muizzu seeking support for candidates of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) during his recent official visits to islands across the country.
With the parliamentary elections due to take place on April 21, the President was accused of campaigning when he started touring the atolls in a series of official trips last month.
But President's Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu at the time that the trips were not intended for campaigning.
