Parliament majority necessary to run a government successfully: President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that to run a government successfully, it is very important for the ruling party at the time to hold the parliament majority as well.

The President made this statement in his first exclusive interview to a media since assuming office, speaking to 'Mihaaru' on Wednesday.

Asked to comment on the work of the parliament and the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for April 21, the President responded that in light of the structure of the Maldives Constitution, it is crucial for a ruling party to also hold parliament majority.

"For example, a lot of the work that we intend to do are related to the legislative agenda. We intend to introduce many new bills and create new laws. For example in our housing area, the real estate industry, construction industry, a new law I intend to introduce in an area like this. If the parliament refuses to do this, then my work is halted. My pledge to the citizens will remain unfulfilled," the President explained.

"For instance, I spoke of creating a twenty year masterplan under a newly formed law. Let's say the parliament does not let this go through. Then that, too, comes to a halt."

The President indicated that the same applies even in the case of the State Budget.

He expressed hopes of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) coalition achieving a super majority through the upcoming parliamentary elections. He voiced confidence that the party held that level of support.

The President stated that if parliament majority is granted to PPM/PNC, then the guarantee that he can fulfil his pledges to the citizens becomes stronger.

"Even if we are faced with very difficult circumstances, if another kind of parliament [with an opposition majority] gets elected, I will still work like I have in the past 100 days, doing all I can to ensure all the pledges are fulfilled. That I assure you," the President stated.

Zero support from current parliament

The President stated that he does not receive "any amount of support" from the current opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) led parliament. He revealed that this, too, was behind causing delays.

As examples, the President highlighted the Parliament's decision to not grant approval to some members of his cabinet, as well as their decisions when passing this year's budget.

"In order to fulfill my pledges, I included projects in all areas [in the budget proposal]. But they brought changes. They included some [in the budget] and entirely left out others. And even those that they did include, they didn't put down enough [fund allocations] to even get the projects started," the President said.

"In some islands, I proposed land reclamation. For land reclamation, they might have included MVR 10 million or 5 million. In some islands they have even put down MVR 1 or 2 million."

The President further stated that the opposition led parliament had refused to include his proposals for reclamation of Rasmale' in the budget as well.

President Dr Muizzu indicated that if he had had the support of the parliament, the government would have been able to deliver even more within the past 14 weeks than they had at present.

"It is as different as the land and the sky, as night and day, to have or not have the support of the parliament."