Former Deputy Speaker of the parliament Eva Abdulla has said that the government knows that the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has already won Saturday's local council elections and the referendum on merging the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a campaign event in Fuvahmulah last night (March 31), Eva said there are two things that have become clear from her visit to the islands in Addu, Huvadhu atoll and Fuvahmulah.

“The government understands that the MDP has already won this,” she said.

She said that the people do not want to vote for the government as a result of its failure to fulfil its promises to the people over the past two and a half years. Looking at Fuvahmulah alone, none of the promises made by the government has come true, she added.

Eva said that it is clear that President Mohamed Muizzu has not fulfilled his promises of developing the deco chamber, airport and hospital to a tertiary level, including other promises to Fuvahmulah.

Expressing concern over the country's financial situation, she said the government is wasting money despite having to pay off USD 500 million in sukuk and USD 1.5 billion in debt by 2026.

"When Muslims were being killed from Iran to Gaza to Beirut, the government decided to celebrate Eid by putting up lights and wasting money. A government that worries about nothing but campaigning and increasing wasteful spending is telling us to merge the two elections and give them more power. No, that cannot be done," Eva said.

A government like this cannot be given more power, Eva said, calling on the people to say no in the referendum on April 4.