The government needs to stay in power for 15 years to bring reforms and build a Dhiveheenge Raajje (A Maldives for Maldivians), Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said on Saturday night.

He made the remarks in an interview with Aslu TV after launching the membership drive for the ruling People's National Congress (PNC). He said a government with the policies of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu needs to be in place for three terms.

"To build a Maldives for Maldivians, the way the people want, a government needs to be in place for 10 to 15 years. That means a government with the policies of President Muizzu," Abdul Raheem said.

The PNC's policy is to shape the work so that President Muizzu's government will continue beyond just one term in office, he added.

President Muizzu, Abdul Raheem and PNC MPs also claimed that the current government deserves a second term.

Even before President Muizzu assumed office, Abdul Raheem claimed that the President would be in power for 10 years. If this becomes a reality, President Muizzu will be the first President to secure a second term since the new constitution came into force in 2008.

At Saturday night's event in Hulhumale', Abdul Raheem officially launched the PNC's membership drive.

PNC began recruiting members in November last year. Within a week, more than 10,000 people joined the ruling party.

The party's membership surpassed 20,000 during the Parliamentary election campaign earlier this year.

PNC aims to increase its membership to more than 70,000 by next month. The membership drive had stalled since the Parliamentary election.

Meanwhile, sources told Adhadhu that Cabinet ministers were required to submit at least 500 membership forms and MPs were required to submit 300 forms during the ongoing drive.