President under fire for promoting private business

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his wife Fazna Ahmed have come under fire for launching a private business outlet in Male on Thursday evening and posting a news item with pictures advertising the business on the President’s Office official social media handles.

The president and first lady inaugurated the high-end shop in Male launched by local brand Kleventi. The president's participation has been criticised openly by many on social media from the point the President's Office announced that he had attended the event.

Many critics on social media say the president promoting specific businesses cannot be accepted. The public also believes that if this is to be done, all business outlets that open should have the same right.

According to some, the president's office must have a policy on how to determine the selection of venues or ceremonies the president can attend; they will not accept that the president can show nepotism to local businesses in this manner.

Others also jokingly commented whether the president would arrive to open their shops as well.

When asked about the criticism, presidential spokesperson Mohamed Miuvan told Atoll Times on Sunday that the president responds to such invitations from NGOs and businesses, especially local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as invitations from young entrepreneurs.

"When invitations come, he does give time to as many people as he can. Even if it is an NGO or a private business, the president will accept the invitation if it is at all possible," said Miuvan.

Responding to criticism from the social media regarding the promotion of a business from the official social media handles of the President's Office, Miuvan said that it was done to provide updated information to the public on the president's whereabouts.

There are no special policies regarding the president's participation in promoting or launching private businesses, and neither is there a regulation banning this.