Dr. Muizzu affirms no demands to stop ongoing projects

President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said he did not make demands to stop any ongoing projects in the islands.

Dr. Muizzu via X said that he had not demanded to halt or pause any developmental projects ongoing across the atolls, and added that no such demands were made on his behalf either.

The president-elect said that machinery on some islands had been relocated, claiming it was at the demand of Dr. Muizzu. However, he denied these claims, stating that they were baseless allegations.

Earlier, Dr. Muizzu had made a list of demands to the incumbent government amid the transition process.

He demanded a halt to new investments and developmental projects, the sale of land, the change of proprietorship of any state assets, including lands, signing new international conventions, new hires for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and government bodies, and employment promotions.

Dr. Muizzu also demanded that new projects under the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) and other initiatives not be executed. He further urged the government to refrain from changing the remuneration framework of public sector employees.

However, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath said the president-elect does not hold any legal authority to halt any ongoing projects or services by the incumbent government.

The AG referring to Article 107(a) of the Maldives Constitution, said that the incumbent president will remain in office until the president-elect formally takes oath to assume powers.

Referring to the same Article, the AG said that the elected president will hold the office for a term of five years, and will remain in power until the next presidency assumes power.

He further said that the president-elect cannot make demands to the incumbent government according to the law. He also said that previous governments had not made such demands to the outgoing administrations during the transitional process.

AG Riffath said that the current administration's authority must prevail until November 17 when the president-elect formally assumes office.

Meanwhile, the parliament's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) committee said it has decided to investigate complaints by SOEs that the President-Elect's Office was obstructing their operations.