Govt says won't force state employees to attend campaign rallies

Government on Thursday said that no one will be forced to attend the campaign activities undertaken by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the upcoming presidential primary of the ruling MDP.

Rival Mohamed Nasheed's team has alleged that employees of state-owned companies and civil servants are being forced to attend the campaign events of the president in the islands for the party's presidential primary to be held on Saturday. When asked about the allegations at a press conference held by the President's Office on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Miuvan Mohamed denied the allegations.

"The heads of any state office or state-owned companies will not instruct or order their employees to attend meetings [or] campaign events," he said.

Miuvan said the president's campaigners could "invite" state employees to attend such events "out of friendship." He added that they could also discuss the campaign with the employees.

"However, no one will be forced [to participate in the campaign], I assure you that," Miuvan said.

In the run-up to the elections, the government is also announcing a number of projects. In addition, applications for land were also opened from Addu suddenly. 

When asked by a reporter if the allotment of land in Addu was opened due to the elections, Miuvan diverted the reporter to ask Addu City Council to clarify the matter.