President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday responded to Medhu Henveiru constituents who protested as he went door-to-door to campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections, dismissing their grievances as complete falsehoods.
The protesters said they gathered during the President's campaign event over the ruling People's National Congress's (PNC) treatment of Hassan Shiyam as he attempted to contest as an independent candidate in the constituency.
"It wasn't this Lovely [PNC candidate] who did the work. It was Hassan Shiyam who took the four [ballot] boxes [of Medhu Henveiru in the presidential election]. But Dr. Muizzu, what are you doing to Hassan Shiyam?" Aishath Ushama asked the President, expressing her disapproval.
Government officials have been posting a video of the President responding to her remarks.
"What you've said about me are all lies, all lies," the President could be heard saying in the video.
The PNC candidate contesting in the Medhu Henveiru constituency does not have the public's support, Ushama said, questioning the low turnout of constituents who came out to greet the President during his door-to-door campaigning.
Woman who protested against President Muizzu.
With that, people gathered at the area called out that they would not vote for the PNC candidate. Ushama, who spoke directly in front of President Muizzu, said it was the protesters who worked out of love to elect the President.
"You are a President we elected with love after taking photos with you. You are a President we elected and put there with much love. But what you did against Hassan Shiyam from our constituency was very wrong."
Hassan Shiyam was unable to contest in the parliamentary elections after the Supreme Court ruled last week that his candidacy was ineligible due to a decreed debt.
After his candidacy was rejected with the judgment, Hassan decided to endorse Ibrahim Ali Jaleel, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate for the constituency.
