We have seen that the people support the Government: President

As candidates belonging to Parties in the Government Coalition won the two parliamentary by-elections and one of the two Council by-elections conducted today, the President has said that the people support the Government.

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik said that the support shown towards the candidates of Government Coalition parties today showed how much the people supported the Government.

The President’s statement came during his address to the people of Guraidhoo. President’s Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza, who is accompanying the President in his visit to Th. Atolll, said that the President addressed the people of Guraidhoo on his way back to Malé.

The President, in his address at Guraidhoo, thanked all those who voted for pro-Government candidates and congratulated parties in the Coalition for the victory.

The President will take a flight from Kadhdhoo to Malé tonight, said Abbas Adil Riza.

Hussain Hassan, Sun Reporter now at Th. Atoll, said that supporters of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), leading member of the Government Coalition, have been flocking at Guraidhoo as soon as it became clear that PPM would win the parliamentary by-election for Th. Thimarafushi Constituency. Guraidhoo is an island in the constituency, and has provided most of the votes for PPM candidate Ahmed Shareef. Shareef beat Mohamed Mustafa, the candidate representing the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) led by former President Nasheed, by 1755 votes to 1327.

The Elections Commission has said that the official preliminary results of today’s elections would be announced at 9 o’clock tonight.