President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu must stop being stubborn and seek dialogue with neighbors to overcome the financial challenges, his predecessor said on Saturday night.
Speaking at an event in Male' to rally support for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary candidates contesting four constituencies in Maafannu, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said he had seen media reports that suggest Muizzu wants to talk to India for debt restructuring. But the financial challenges are not caused by Indian loans, he claimed.
Maldives has a debt of MVR 18 billion owed to China compared to MVR 8 billion owed to India, Solih said, adding that the repayment period is 25 years.
"However, I am confident that our neighbors will help. We must stop being stubborn and seek dialogue. There are many parties that can help us. But he [Muizzu] doesn't want to compromise. I feel they [the government] are starting to understand the situation only now," Solih stated.
Neighbors and Islamic countries from the Middle East will help the Maldives but due to the actions of the current government, Maldives so far received only 50 tons of dates from the Middle East, he continued in a sarcastic manner.
The former President said the government was deceiving the public and relaunching projects initiated by the MDP government. He said ministers are now lying to cover up those lies.
"It seems they [ministers] were summoned two days ago and he [Muizzu] said 'I have become a liar in front of the people now. None of you care about me''," Solih stated.
Muizzu criticized India during and after the presidential election campaign and relations between the two countries have deteriorated since he assumed office.
He is yet to visit India although it has been four months since the new government took over. The first overseas trip by Maldivian Presidents had always been to India.
