At a recent rally, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih voiced strong concerns about the direction the Maldives is heading under President Muizzu’s government, suggesting that the nation may be slipping into dangerous, dictatorial rule. The rally, held by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and attended by large crowds, marks a turning point in the opposition’s approach to holding the current administration accountable.
President Solih’s message was clear: the Muizzu government seems to be grabbing control over all aspects of power, with independent institutions like the Elections Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission in its crosshairs. Dismissing members of these institutions is only one example of what Solih sees as a steady takeover of all independent powers, which he claims will likely be used to manipulate the outcome of the 2028 presidential election.
The former president also criticized the recently proposed state budget, describing it as vague and incomplete. Solih emphasized that the budget slashes funds allocated to local councils, a clear violation of the Decentralization Act and even the Constitution. By reducing council funding, the administration appears intent on dismantling the decentralization system itself, stripping local governments of the power to address the needs of their communities.
Reflecting on last year’s budget, Solih noted it was depleted within eight months with little to show for it. He remarked that although a massive MVR 49.8 billion budget was spent, and an additional MVR 5 billion was approved in contingency funds, there are no completed projects, repaid loans, or significant improvements anywhere in the country.
Solih painted a picture of a government that is failing its people on multiple fronts: reducing essential Aasandha healthcare coverage, cutting subsidies that many rely on, raising taxes on ordinary citizens, leaving fishermen unpaid, and pushing local businesses toward bankruptcy. According to Solih, youth empowerment programs are also lacking, leaving young Maldivians with few opportunities in their own country.
As MDP supporters filled the rally ground, just five days before President Muizzu’s one-year mark in office, the public’s disappointment with the administration was palpable. The current government’s broken promises and lack of transparency have many wondering if the Maldives can withstand five more years of such governance. For former President Solih and the MDP, the message was clear: they stand ready to defend Maldivian democracy from the path of authoritarian rule they believe the Muizzu administration is on.
