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President Yameen admits MP defection weakened PPM

Shaina Abdulla
09 August 2018, MVT 17:23
During President Yameen's visit to Gaafu Alifu Atoll Villingili in 2017.
Shaina Abdulla
09 August 2018, MVT 17:23

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, during his speech at Gaafu Alifu Atoll Villingili, has stated that ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was weakened after lawmakers defected to opposition parties last year.

During the speech, President Yameen noted that main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was forced to step down after acknowledging the strength of PPM. However, he stated that the party was weakened after pro-government lawmakers defected to opposition parties in greed for money.

Yameen claimed that he was sure the defected lawmakers were offered bribes by members of the opposition in order to defect and join the opposition parties.

The president also criticized lawmaker of Gaafu Alifu Atoll Villingili constituency Saud Hussain for being amongst the lawmakers of PPM to join the opposition. However, he added that although the lawmaker had defection to the opposition, the people of Gaafu Alifu Atoll Villingili remain standing with the ruling party.

The president further highlighted that the opposition only spent a small sum of MVR 18 million on the development of Villigili island during their administration, in contrast to the MVR 425 million spent on development projects by the current ruling party’s administration.

Gaafu Alifu Atoll Villingili has a population of 4,000 inhabitants.

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