Maldives has the capability to hold free and fair elections: President Waheed

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that there is no reason to be concerned about the country's ability to conduct free and fair elections.

Speaking at a Gaumee Ithihaad Party function held in Hiriya School last night, President Waheed said that Maldives has seen three multiparty elections in the past and that there should not be any concern about the Maldives' ability to hold free and fair elections this year.

“The country has held three elections so far which involved multiple parties, including a presidential election, a parliamentary election, and a local council election. We conducted all these election with dedication, to show the world that Maldivian are capable of a lot of things. So there is no room to worry today, that Maldives can conduct free and fair elections,” said the President.

President Waheed said the Maldives had progressed last year and that even though the country had faced large obstacles, it has achieved a number of successful feats as well.

Speaking of his own political career, the President said that he resigned United Nations and returned back to Maldives after the political parties were established and that he has contributed his fair share to the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the first political party in the country. He continued to say that he had worked to save Maldives from foreign pressures, and said that the country had endured through the pressures of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) last year. He also added that he does not believe in lesser justice for smaller countries.

Male’ City Council Member and member of the opposition MDP’s National Council Sarangu Adam Manik also spoke at last night's function. He said that President Waheed has to be recognized as the person who brought democracy to the country and that it was about time that everyone accepted Waheed as their leader and make their way forward. He reiterated his support for president Waheed during last night's function.