Minister Shahid asserts confidence in president Solih's victory

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has said that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited more islands in the upper-northern atolls than his main opponent, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

According to minister Shahid, president Solih visited nearly 40 islands in the upper-northern atolls, while the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate Dr. Muizzu visited only 17 islands.

During a rally held in Haa Dhaalu atoll Kulhudhuffushi, the minister remarked that the opposition's disregard for smaller communities is evident in how they prioritized their visits.

Minister Shahid asserted that, unlike the opposition, President Solih's campaign tours served as evidence of his non-discriminatory policy towards all island communities.

The minister also said that the scenery witnessed by President Solih and his campaign team upon arriving in Kulhudhuffushi is enough to predict a landslide victory for him in the upcoming presidential election.

"The President has already visited 40 islands [in the upper-northern atolls], while his opponents had only visited 17," minister Shahid said.

According to him, the public questioned whether president Solih is facing any competition in the presidential race.

The minister said that the public complained lack of visitation by other candidates to listen to their needs, while President Solih visited all local communities and spoke to them in person.

“There is no point in requesting for votes from smaller communities after neglecting them, refusing to visit them or initiate any developmental projects for them,” minister Shahid said.

Minister Shahid said that the current government's developmental projects in the upper-northern atolls are unprecedented, with the overall total of projects conducted in the atolls, including Kulhudhuffushi City, amounting to MVR 51.3 billion.

The minister emphasized that the Hanimaadhoo Airport expansion project, undertaken during President Solih's administration, will increase the arrival capacity to 1.5 million tourists per annum. He stated that the airport will serve as a key economic booster for the region.

“The opposition’s vision in this is to shut down the operations of Hanimaadhoo airport,” minister Shahid said.