A year has passed since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office on November 17, 2023, a moment many Maldivians saw as a turning point for the nation. Hopeful citizens envisioned a presidency committed to resetting the nation’s trajectory, guided by promises of efficiency, transparency, and progress. Yet, twelve months into his administration, the lofty expectations have unraveled into a web of unfulfilled promises and mounting grievances.
A Bloated Administration, Not a Streamlined Government
One of Muizzu’s most resounding campaign pledges was to establish a lean government capped at 700 political appointees, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, the reality has been starkly different. Reports indicate that the number of political appointees has exceeded 2,000, with some suggesting it is closer to 3,000. Despite repeated calls for transparency, the government has refused to disclose the exact figure, leaving citizens questioning its commitment to accountability.
The extravagance of this administration was evident from its inception. A staggering MVR 22.9 million was allocated for Muizzu’s inauguration—a stark contradiction to his promise of avoiding unnecessary expenditure. Adding to the disillusionment, MVR 3.6 million was spent on renovating the presidential residence Mulee’aage, even as the president delayed moving in for 80 days, opting to stay at his private residence.
Broken Promises and Stalled Development
Despite holding a supermajority in the People’s Majlis, the Muizzu administration has failed to deliver on its promises of development. Across the capital and the islands, progress remains stagnant. Materials from projects initiated by the previous administration lie abandoned, and no significant development initiatives have begun under Muizzu’s leadership.
Flagship projects like the Fushidhiggaru Lagoon reclamation and the Ras Malé initiative remain incomplete, with less than 15% of the promised area reclaimed. Even the grand announcement of an undersea tunnel connecting Malé and Ras Malé has proven to be little more than political theater, with no tangible progress made since the feasibility studies were announced in February.
Celebrating Empty Achievements
Just days before marking one year in power, the administration held a grand reopening ceremony for the Dharumavantha Hospital—a facility completed under former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and operational during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s tenure. This spectacle, complete with lavish lights and millions spent, epitomized the government’s tendency to prioritize optics over substance.
Mounting Grievances: A Nation Betrayed
The grievances against the administration are mounting. Citizens, including those who voted for Muizzu, are increasingly disillusioned as promises have given way to betrayal. Key failures of the administration include:
- Economic Mismanagement: Despite spending MVR 49 billion in one year, the government has not provided a transparent account of these funds. An additional MVR 5 billion was approved by the Majlis, raising serious concerns about financial oversight. The country’s credit rating has been downgraded twice in a matter of months, signaling a deepening financial crisis.
- Neglect of Fishermen: Delays in paying fishermen have left one of the country’s most vital sectors struggling to survive.
- Housing Inequities: The administration has refused to hand over flats to rightful recipients, denying ordinary citizens their basic rights.
- Tax Burden: New taxes on ordinary Maldivians have exacerbated financial struggles for the average household.
- Tourism Strain: Unrealistic forex regulations have placed undue pressure on the tourism sector, one of the country’s economic pillars.
- Media Suppression: Efforts to silence journalists through fines and draconian measures have raised alarms about threats to media freedom.
The First Anniversary: What Is There to Celebrate?
As the administration marks its first anniversary, one must ask: what exactly is it celebrating? Is it the betrayal of campaign promises? The economic struggles of ordinary citizens? The erosion of transparency and accountability? Or the unchecked corruption and nepotism that now define the government?
President Muizzu came into power on a wave of promises that offered hope to a nation in need. Yet, one year later, that hope has been replaced by frustration, disillusionment, and anger. The administration’s failure to deliver on its commitments has left Maldivians grappling with a sense of betrayal and the question: how much more can the nation endure?
