Pres slams Muizz's council ministry idea as 'threat' to system

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday described PPM-PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz's statement that a separate ministry would be set up to empower the island councils as something that is "very scary" and a threat to the decentralised administration system.

Muizz, while speaking at a campaign rally in H.Dh. Nolhivaranfaru said last week that the existing system does not give real authority to the councils and the solution is to create a separate ministry for the councils. Muizz said such a ministry would be set up during his tenure.

The president commented on the proposal while responding to questions from reporters during MDP’s door-to door campaign event in Male Monday afternon.

"He is talking about something very, very, very scary. He is trying to centralise powers again," he said.

President Solih said the previous PPM government had taken away the powers of the councils and if such a ministry was created, the powers of the councils would be concentrated in capital Male, and that this practice goes back many years.

"Again we are seeing them concentrating their powers back in Male. It is frightening. If they are given the opportunity, we will go back many years," he said.

Before the introduction of decentralisation, there was a separate ministry called the atolls ministry to look after the affairs of the islands. The system was also criticised during the reform movement to bring democracy to Maldives. The Local Government Authority (LGA) was formed to address the criticisms.

Muizz's promise has sparked criticism on social media that he is trying to create an atolls ministry and take over the powers of the councils.