MDP must learn to stay in power too, says president

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Thursday that changing government is not the long-term policy of MDP and that it should also learn to stay in power.

In the president’s two-day campaign visit to the Haa Alifu atoll, which he commenced on Wednesday, his first stop on Thursday was HA. Maarandhoo.

Speaking to the people of Maarandhoo at the harbour area, President Solih said that MDP had always come out to change the governments in the past.

However, this is not the case now, he said, adding that the situation in 2018 is very different from the current situation.

"In the past, MDP has always come out to change governments. Some of us still have that mentality. Even within the party, there is the mentality of changing the government even while in power. These old habits die hard," he said.

"However, the next thing we have to do after coming to power, I believe, is to maintain the government. It is because we want to fulfil the promises made. It is not MDP's long-term policy to change governments. We need to learn to stay in power as well. That is how we can best serve the people”. 

President Solih said he is contesting the September 9 election to maintain the government elected by the people in 2018.

The president said he was still maintaining the coalition government elected by the people.

"However, some of our coalition members have withdrawn when contesting this election. That is not a problem for me," he said.

"There are parties that believe in what we are doing for the people and believe that we can do things for the people. MDA and Adhaalath are with us. This is the largest coalition with the largest number of members”.

In his speech in Maarandhoo, the president made pledges for the people of the island if elected for another term: