Any delay in taking office would have ruined nation: Saleem

Eydhafushi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) said last night that if it had taken just a bit longer for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to assume presidency, the country would have "fallen to ruin".

He said this at the Eydhafushi meeting last night, with Eydhafushi being President Muizzu's first destination in his Baa Atoll visit.

Saleem said that citizens need to be reminded that Maldives was in a vulnerable place at the time, and to especially remind citizens of the debt that Maldives has accumulated as well.

"When the current administration started, the debt of Maldives was at an all time high, with companies accumulating billions in debt as well. The Maldivian state has billions in debt. This is the state of the country we're living in," said Saleem.

"Our main purpose is to save the country. If it [a change of administration] had taken just a bit longer, the country would have fallen. Not just the economy, not just society, everything was in a bad state."

He gestured to the owed debt of USD 1 billion next year, which translates to MVR 20 billion with current dollar transfer rates.

"A total of MVR 34 billion will be spent after the state pays off the MVR 20 billion loan, with the remaining MVR 14 billion being salary payments. State revenue is around MVR 34 - 35 billion. So this means that the state is exhausting all its money just to pay off the loan and give employees their salary," stated Saleem.

"So please explain how offices will be run. How social projects will be funded. How will development projects be funded? This is the type of government we are working in."

Saleem said that he agrees that projects aren't being completed as efficiently as possible and that there are obstacles in the way. He went on to say that despite that, President Muizzu is moving forward without hesitation.

President Muizzu said at last night's meeting that the economy was in a rocky state. He went on to say that the opposition members in Parliament at the time passed the budget without including what the current government wanted.