Presidential candidate for the Forward with the Nation Coalition, President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that the Maldives has been forced to wear the “democracy cap”, an oversized cap that is too big for the country.

Speaking at a campaign event in Haa Dhaalu Hanimaadhoo last night, President Waheed said that the current political system is suitable for developed countries and that being a developing country, the system is too challenging for the Maldives.

“The state of the Maldives is not the same as the U.S. It’s not the same as the U.K. But the cap that the Maldives has been forced to wear, the democracy cap, it is too big for us. In a situation like this, everyone cannot be tugging the cap from all sides. We have to make a collective effort to make it fit,” President Waheed said.

He said that it is rare to see partners in a coalition government challenging the leading party in a presidential election.

“In what country will two candidates from his (the President’s) coalition run against him? Not in any country I know. And in what country will the current president, a former president, and the brother of the former president, where do you see all these presidents stand for election? This does not happen in any other country. This is happening, and we have to believe this,” the President said.

President Waheed also inaugurated the sewerage system for Haa Dhaalu Hanimaadhoo in his current trip to the island. Referring to sewerage system project, the President said that he has initiated a numbed of development projects across country and needs five more years to ensure that they are completed.

“We have initiated harbour development projects in 52 islands within the past one and a half years. This means that we’ve started harbour construction in a number of islands. We’re also building 66 kilometers of road,” President Waheed said.

He stressed that one and a half years is a very short time for a presidential term and asked the people to grant him five more years to complete his projects.