President Mohamed Muizzu has dismissed rumors regarding the potential removal of Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, stating there is no truth to the allegations.
During a press conference held at the President's Office yesterday, a journalist questioned Muizzu regarding claims made at a People’s National Front (PNF) rally. The allegations suggested that following the removal of Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim from the post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Vice President would be the next to be ousted.
"The talk of removing VP Hussain Mohamed Latheef is at that [absurd] level. What exactly are they trying to create? This isn't even politics; it’s not even dirty politics. This is politics on an entirely different level—desperateness [sic] to the maximum," Muizzu said.
Muizzu went on to criticize the spread of falsehoods, asserting that the country lacks a responsible opposition. He characterized the opposition's activities as "gossip," remarking that it takes a certain level of audacity to lie so brazenly without flinching.
"It is baseless gossip that makes no sense at all. This is the level our country is at," Muizzu added.
He further noted that individuals who have previously held high-ranking state positions are now spending their days and nights spreading such rumors.
"We do not have an opposition in this country; that is a certainty. If an opposition is not responsible, it is not an opposition. Therefore, since there is no truth to that story, there is nothing more to say about it."
Many of the current senior leadership of the People's National Congress (PNC) previously worked alongside former President Abdulla Yameen. This includes Vice President Hussain, current Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, and several cabinet ministers.
However, these officials are now aligned politically with Muizzu. Meanwhile, Yameen’s PNF has been operating as an opposition movement.
The PNF rallies have become a platform for vocal criticism and rumors regarding the current administration's internal affairs. Claims regarding the removal of Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim from the post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament also first surfaced at PNF rallies.
In line with those rumors, Nazim was removed from his position. Muizzu said yesterday that there are no ongoing discussions or further matters to address regarding Nazim.
