Fayyaz invites Saeed to debate on debt situation

MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail invites Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed for a debate, after Saeed commented that the responsibility of the current financial situation of Maldives is to be shouldered by MDP.

Fayyaz stated, during last night's MDP National Council, that the current government is not doing anything for the good of the public and when issues that put pressure on Maldivian society arise, the government tends to deflect and bring the previous MDP government into the mix.

"I call upon the Economic Minister and Finance Minister to have a productive discussion about the current state of national debt out in front of the public, along with me and our MDP's ex-Finance Minister," Fayyaz stated.

"Come if you can, we are ready to clearly have the discussion or debate with you."

As said by Fayyaz, they are ready to not only discuss the debt issue, but to discuss the accusation of corruption and the topic of Gedhoruveriya during MDP's administration with the current administrations ministers.

Fayyaz said that a formal invitation will be expressed by the MDP concerning the debate.

The debate invitation was put out due to Saeed's comments pertaining to the MVR 125.2 billion debt that was amassed by the end of the MDP administration in 2023.

"The debt that was amassed during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's five year administration is higher than the debt amassed in a 40 to 50 year timeframe previously," said Saeed this past Monday on a PSM program.

Saeed, who also served as the Economic Minister during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, said that when that administration ended, there was USD 1 billion in the national reserves, along with USD 250 million in the Sovereign Development Fund.

However, he went on to say, during the final year of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, the state budget was left at MVR 50 billion, with the law having been "locked" and having printed money extensively.