Will not form presidential commissions to investigate politicians: President Muizzu

The existing government of Maldives will not follow the footsteps of its predecessors and establish presidential commissions to prosecute and jail politicians as soon as the government changes, said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu last night at the event to commemorate Maldives' Republic Day.

Speaking at the event, President Muizzu said that the spirit of seeking revenge has been eradicated from the country, just as he mentioned during his campaign. He further said that this government has never demonstrated arresting and jailing opposition members, and assured it will remain that way in the future as well.

"My political opponent, because they are a politician, will not be seen being arrested and taken to jail. It will not be seen in the future either," President Muizzu said, speaking at the event held at Dharubaaruge.

Referring to previous governments, the President said politicians have been framed in various ways and brutally taken to jail in Maldives. Politicians, even close relatives and friends, were framed to exclude them as political competition, he said.

However, all that has ended with this government, the president said.

"Be it a relative, a friend or anyone else, the tradition of eliminating political competition has been forever eradicated from this country the day this administration assumed power. God willing, it will not be seen from this country again," the president said.

However, he warned that despite his promise to not initiate prosecution with presidential commissions, if such persons have engaged in theft and unjust encroachment on the country's property, there will be relevant agencies which would look into it.

"You will not see political interference via presidential commissions, into what was done by [governments] that came before us, from this government. But, if a theft or unjust encroachment has taken place, it will be investigated. If public money was touched, it will be investigated," he said.

He went on to say that the public does not want such political rivalry, political intimidation and revenge.

"There are independent institutions. There is a constitutional system, there is a judicial system. The people do not want to [to see] commissions being formed to hunt politicians, disrupt the country's peace and revive the spirit of revenge."

President Muizzu said that he is ruling the country as the people want, and assured he will not stray from that path like previous administrations did.

While the president's comments referred to previous administrations, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration established two presidential commissions to investigate the government before them. Five years later, however, no results were yielded from the commissions' investigations. Governments before that also followed similar practices of establishing commissions for various purposes.