Those who do not vote do not have the option to complain: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that everyone should vote in the presidential election on 7 September, and that those who do not vote in this election do not have the option of complaining about issues related to the government.

The president made this remark while addressing the people of Gaafu Dhaalu Gadhdhoo today.

“The vote cast in an election is a very valuable thing. The most valuable thing you have in politics is your vote. So you have to use that right. You have to vote, regardless of who you are. But the people who do not vote do not have the option of complaining. They don’t have any authority to criticise the government,” he said.

President Waheed said that the four presidential candidates have each had the opportunity to serve the government in high posts, and thus prior to voting, the people have to consider how they have served the country in the past.

“One person was elected as president. Another is someone who served as the finance minister for a long time. Then we have someone who served as economic affairs minister for a long time. Then there’s me. I have been the vice president, and then president for one and a half years. So it’s very important that you think about how we have acted when serving you,” he said.