Azim: Government seeks to combine elections because public voting power is an inconvenience

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim has stated that the government's decision to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections was made because the administration finds it difficult to contend with the public's exercise of power through the ballot box on election days.

Speaking at the "Heyvalla Thayyaaru Hulhumale'" mass rally held in Hulhumale', Mayor Azim stated that the right to vote is a hard-won liberty achieved through the immense efforts and sacrifices of the Maldivian people. He emphasized that this is a fundamental right belonging to the citizens, asserting that it should not be surrendered simply because someone demands it.

Mayor Azim stated that the President is attempting to seize the rights of the people and is working through deception to strip them of their power. He further noted that frequent elections do not cause any harm to the citizens, nor do they pose any significant inconvenience to the government or the Parliament.

Should you simply hand over your phone, wallet, and watch just because someone asks for them? Why should you surrender your rights? What harm does it cause a citizen to have frequent elections? What inconvenience does it pose to the President, the Parliament, or the administration of the country? The only real "inconvenience" is that when power remains with the people, they will use their vote to hold the government accountable for its misconduct. It is because they fear the people will exercise this power to expose their failures that they are now attempting to strip you of your most significant authority. Do not surrender the power that belongs to the people. Do not grant them that right. To prevent them from taking it, you will be given a ballot paper on April 4th. That paper will ask whether you approve or disapprove. On that ballot, you must declare that you will not hand over this power. You must clearly mark your choice against the proposal.

Mayor of Male' City, Adam Azim

Azim stated that the government is unsettled by the power held by the people, fearing that voters will use the ballot box to reject the administration's misconduct. He further noted that because the public is poised to exercise their democratic authority against these actions, the government is now attempting to seize the fundamental power currently held by the citizens.

The President must not harbor the illusion that the power belonging to the people can be seized through deception. If you surrender this authority to this administration, you are forfeiting your most fundamental right to exercise power within a democratic system. I must reiterate this because there are some among us who seem willing to give away the power we hold. Some may feel this is a trivial matter, but it is not. This is a right earned through the immense sacrifices of many. Now that we have secured our right to vote, we must under no circumstances allow anyone to snatch it away or plunder the liberties we have achieved.

Mayor of Male' City, Adam Azim

The Mayor stated that if the public grants this power to the government, there is a significant risk of losing the most fundamental right within a democratic system.

The Mayor stated that this is a right earned through the sacrifices of many, and under no circumstances should anyone attempting to seize these rights be given the opportunity to do so. He further expressed his hope that the public would stand up as attempts are made to strip them of this invaluable right.