Yameen claims dissent against Muizzu extends to cabinet
Yameen said ministers also recognised that the ruling party could not win the 2028 presidential election with Muizzu as its candidate.
Former president Abdulla Yameen claimed on Sunday night that opposition to President Mohamed Muizzu’s government was growing within the Cabinet as well as Parliament.
Speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) gathering, Yameen repeated his allegation of a “silent coup” within Parliament and said ministers also recognised that the ruling party could not win the 2028 presidential election with Muizzu as its candidate.
His remarks followed a People’s National Congress (PNC) gathering on Saturday night at which party MPs rejected his claims and criticised him. Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla and PNC parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah, the MP for Inguraidhoo, also directed criticism at Yameen and his wife.
Yameen said he would not respond in kind, arguing that doing so would lower his standards. He dismissed the PNC speakers as lacking the standing to debate politics with him.
He claimed their remarks reflected anger because his account of divisions within the government was true.
“It is not only happening within Parliament. It is happening within the Cabinet too. They know they cannot win in 2028 with Muizzu. That is evident from the votes already cast,” Yameen said.
He also alleged that a Cabinet reshuffle, in which several ministers were moved between portfolios and others removed, had followed the leaking of conversations held over coffee.
According to Yameen, people serving in the government were themselves saying that little was being done in constituencies and that Muizzu was failing to deliver measures supported by the public.
Yameen further claimed that Muizzu had brought Abdul Raheem forward to criticise him on the advice of advisers, after a period in which the Speaker had been sidelined.
He argued that Abdul Raheem should not interpret his appearance at the PNC gathering as evidence that his relationship with Muizzu had improved.
“Now Abdul Raheem thinks the relationship has improved. No, it has not,” Yameen said, referring to the removal from office of someone he described as Abdul Raheem’s “prince”.
