First democratically elected president is not Nasheed: MDA Leader Siyam

Leader of Maldivian Development Alliance (MDA) Ahmed Siyam Mohamed has said that the first democratically elected president in the Maldives is the incumbent president, not former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Siyam said this while speaking at a function held by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to launch its campaign for the Local Council Election.

He heavily criticised Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and said that MDP claimed victory over former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the 2008 Presidential Election by spreading lies and misleading the public.

“MDP won the election by spreading lies, by defaming good people and calling them thieves. A few people believed their stories. It wasn’t democratic in anyway. After the introduction of the new constitution in 2008, the first true democratically elected president is President Yameen,” he said.

Siyam said that MDP should be held responsible for the damage caused to the country and its people over the tenure of former President Nasheed’s presidency.

He said that this includes holding MDP responsible for the misuse of MVR 4 billion state funds, the difficulties suffered by the people due to the sale of the airport, obstacles in obtaining visa to India, and shortage of gravel for construction.

He warned against MDP returning to power and people having to suffer all over again, and called to vote for PPM in the Local Council Election to facilitate achievement of President Yameen’s developmental targets for the country.