Yameen: MDP is the most autocratic, interferes with the judiciary

Opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen has said that MDP is the most autocratic party in the Maldives to govern the country twice.

Yameen arrived in Lhaviyani Atoll Kurendhoo yesterday afternoon for the "India Out" campaign run by the PPM-PNC coalition. He said that the first MDP regime also interfered with the judiciary and current regime is seen to be interfering and breaking the laws of the judiciary more than any other government.

He said that every time MDP rules, the powers granted to the people by law were deprived.

Yameen accused MDP of trying to undermine the independence of the country, allow religions other than Islam, and grant freedom without any rules or regulations. He said that these are against the beliefs of Maldivian, and that the laws and policies established with the participation of the people are well known.

"The first time President Nasheed came to power he interfered with the judiciary. Since then, we've seen the same thing happen more obviously and more openly," Yameen said.

Yameen said that while the government has three branches, judiciary; the third branch is responsible for preventing violations by the first two; the president and the people's majlis. The judges who are in charge of doing so need to know the schemes of MDP.

"Judiciary is the strongest power of the people, or the power that people mostly depend on, and it has the authority to maintain Islamic laws in the country and prevent the violation of principles by the other two political branches," Yameen said.

Accusing MDP of trying to interfere with the judiciary, Yameen said that one of the clearest signs of this is that MDP clearly does not believe in or adhere to policies.

"[MDP] uses the magic of words to come into power and after that they abolish regulations and use autocracy to govern the country every time," Yameen said.

Yameen also visited Naifaru after kurendhoo in a campaign against the presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives.

Yameen is also preparing for the by-election to elect the president of the island's council. A PPM candidate is also contesting in the by-election to be held on April 26.