The last group of Indian soldiers in the Maldives will leave in May as promised by the government but there is still much to be done "to ensure independence", President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said.
Speaking during an event in Addu on Friday night to campaign for the ruling party's candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month, Muizzu said Parliament cooperation is required for the work to ensure independence.
"There are still many things to do here to ensure our independence. There are so many things to do. These things will require the cooperation of Parliament. There are changes to be made to some of the agreements and changes that need to be brought to some laws. There are also new laws needed," he said.
Muizzu claimed that this can be done only by electing people with the ideology of protecting our own freedom.
"That is the ideology of the Maldivians' nation. We are talking about a nation of Maldivians. Not a nation of foreigners," he said, describing political opponents as a group that prioritises the interests of foreign parties.
Muizzu said the people cannot feel this is a nation of Maldivians unless people who represent the ideology are elected to Parliament.
“We cannot feel like a unique, sovereign, independent country,” he said.
