MDP will overturn media law on first day of govt, Fayyaz says

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Fayyaz Ismail has pledged that the Media Control Act will be repealed on the first day of an MDP government.

The MDP’s National Assembly met on Wednesday to discuss the media regulation bill passed in an extraordinary parliamentary sitting earlier this week. Speaking at the meeting, Fayyaz said the party would correct what he described as constitutional violations by President Mohamed Muizzu.

“We will restore his efforts to break the Constitution. And more fully, we will prevent such a person from coming back and playing with the Constitution,” Fayyaz said. “The Media Control Bill [Law] is the first law to be repealed.”

He added that other laws that have created difficulties for the public would also be amended in consultation with citizens.

The bill was passed by Parliament on Tuesday but has not yet been ratified by the President. MDP President Abdulla Shahid and other party leaders have called on the National Assembly not to implement the legislation.

Fayyaz also criticised President Muizzu’s recent announcement that a referendum would be held in Addu to determine whether the atoll should continue under a single city council or separate councils. He argued that the first referendum should be on whether the current administration should remain in office.

“I will tell you everything President Muizzu said when he came to power. He has broken every promise and acted against it. This is something the people already know,” Fayyaz said.