Former Attorney General Azima Shakoor has accused the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of trying to establish an authoritarian government, where anyone who stands against their administration has to be “neutralized.”

Speaking on DhiTV’s Khabaruthereyn program Tuesday night, Azima said, in the short period that the party has maintained majority in parliament, MDP has started exhibiting authoritarian tactics in dealing with the opposition.

“Against anybody with power, to do away with anybody that says a word and intimidate them to move back. Their aim is to exhibit influence this way to create an authoritarian government. That’s why they have gained parliament,” Azima said.

The former attorney general said her recent removal from office through a no-confidence motion in parliament was retribution for her intervention in Jumhoory Party’s case in Supreme Court that resulted in the annulment of the 7 September presidential election.

She defended her decision to intervene and said that the Attorney General’s Office had to be involved because of a report presented to the President by the police.

Azima accused MDP of having a personal grudge against her family. “Things have progressed to a point where we can see that they have a personal jealousy against our family,” Azima said.

She said that in the days prior to her no-confidence motion, MDP had made her numerous offers to subdue her, but said that she had no intention of working on her knees to serve the powerful.

“I have no intention of making deals to take an office so I can work on my knees to serve the powerful. MDP made me numerous offers. I am saying, I don’t have to kneel to serve anyone. I don’t want to work like that,” Azima said.

Azima said she had already made plans to resign after the end of the presidential term on 11 November.