Opposition coalition govt will last maximum 18 months: President Yameen

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has claimed that the opposition parties are in alliance only to free the jailed political leaders, and once that is done, at most, the coalition government will only last 18 months.

While addressing a gathering during his campaign trip to Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll, the president said that the motive behind all the parties coming together is to free the political leaders.

Proclaiming that the coalition is deceiving people by claiming that they will run a government, President Yameen said their declaration of changing the system of government to a parliamentary system is proof that they will not last.

The president also claimed that there are disagreements within the coalition, stating that while Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and its leader former President Mohamed Nasheed hold the coalition's reigns, the other coalition members Adhaalath Party and Jumhooree Party, have almost no say.

"We believe that this will be just an 18-month government. Or even less, based on the things they are saying. They say that we need an 'interim government' and only after that, there should be an election," said President Yameen.

In MDP's manifesto, the main opposition has pledged to establish independent institutions that the public can trust in the first year and six months of government. It also states that during this time period, most political parties will be granted legal rights.

There are some disagreements within the coalition regarding the establishment of an interim government. So far, the opposition's presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) is yet to address these speculations.

Additionally, President Yameen noted that MDP had talked about establishing an interim government during the election in 2008, and that while Nasheed had won the election, he had failed to keep his word.

President Yameen declared that when one is facing an election with the people, they must pose the question of how long the opposition plans to stay in power.

The president claimed that after the MDP government and initial coalition in 2008 had failed, MDP would know best that a coalition government will not last. He added that after spending so much on the election, they have to face the public and speak of things that the people will believe.