Former Environment Minister Aminath Shauna has said that any development affecting the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) directly impacts the country.
Speaking at a campaign rally last night, Shauna emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the MDP’s internal governance and operate it as a robust institution. She argued that to achieve this, the party must move away from personality-driven politics and instead be governed by established principles and democratic standards.
"We are witnessing how everything that happens to this party reflects on the Maldives. When this party fractures, we see the state fracture; when this party unravels, we see the government unravel, and our very lives are disrupted," Shauna said.
Shauna remarked that the consequences of having an administration other than the MDP in power are now being felt across the nation. Citing the current government of President Mohamed Muizzu as an example, she alleged that the administration has undermined the Constitution and restricted fundamental rights.
"Media freedom has been dismantled, journalists are being imprisoned, and the number of political prisoners is rising. The cost of living has skyrocketed, making daily life incredibly difficult. There is a shortage of cooking gas, essential medicines, and US dollars are nowhere to be found. Development projects across the islands have come to a standstill," Shauna claimed.
She asserted that as the opposition, the MDP must protest, raise its voice, and advocate against these issues through both activism and formal discourse.
However, Shauna noted that these efforts must go hand-in-hand with internal reforms. She admitted it is a reality that over the past 20 years, the party has not been managed as effectively as it should have been.
