Nasheed links quadrupled Aasandha expenditure in January to MDP primary

Ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has questioned whether there is a link between the quadrupled Aasandha expenditure during this year’s January compared to the same period last year and the party's presidential primary held recently. 

Speaking at Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, Nasheed underscored the government expenditure on Aasandha from the weekly fiscal developments.

In January 2022, the government spent MVR 67.9 million on Aasandha. The amount quadrupled during the same period this year at MVR 283.4 million.

Referring to this, Nasheed, in a sarcastic tone, said that the number of sick people quadrupled in this January compared to last.

“The parliament must question whether the change is attributed to an internal election or whether the number of sick people really quadrupled,” he said.

He added that parliament members must review and question the fiscal reports on government expenditure which are publicized weekly. 

Nasheed, who lost the primary to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has made several allegations regarding the election including undue influence from the government and has even questioned the legitimacy of the results.