Mariya: Claims of job threats is insult to party members

Defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, also the campaign spokesperson for President Solih's presidential primary, said on Friday that MDP is a party of people who have not shied away from the fear of unemployment.

Mariya said it was a "big insult" to members to speak about the fear of losing jobs, responding to a statement issued by the campaign office of opposition candidate Mohamed Nasheed on Friday accusing President Solih and the government officials supporting him.

Responding to the allegations Nasheed made, President Solih's campaign spokesman Mariya said MDP was the party of those who did not shy away from the fear of unemployment and that "talking about the fear of losing jobs is a big insult to the members of this powerful party".

The government also has denied the claims of Nasheed's campaign team. Spokesperson at the President's Office, Miuvaan Mohamed, said the government did not threaten any employees and did not take any action such as changing jobs in connection with the campaign.

"Aren't the ministers in the government, the president's office, doing the same in the primary campaign against the president? There are people in various positions in the government who are campaigning with the president's rival candidate. We don't job scare anyone," Miuvaan said in a statement.

He also said that government offices were not used during President Solih's primary campaign and that those in positions of office did not abuse their positions.

The primary to choose the MDP candidate for the September presidential election will be held on Saturday, 28 December. MDP president and former president Mohamed Nasheed and interim president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have been campaigning in the atolls this weekend.