Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s manifesto should aim to strengthen the decentralized system, says its leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed, whose administration worked to establish the decentralized system, said this in a tweet on Thursday.
In the tweet, the self-exiled opposition leader also praised Gaaf Alif Villingili council as being the most active and effective council and said that actions that undermine the decentralized system should be stopped.
Ga. Villigilli council akee enme harakaiytheri adhi natheejaa nerey eh council. Lamarukazee nizaam nethikohlumuge niyathugai hingaa mi kan kan huhtuvaan jehey. MDP Manifesto ge eh amaazakah vaan jeheynee lamarukazee nizam baaruverikoh furihama kurun.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 19, 2018
The Local Government Authority (LGA), which is under the control of President Abdulla Yameen, suspended Villingili council without pay for a month on Tuesday after the council released a statement on February 17 chastising the police for assaulting RaajjeTV journalist Hussain Hassan, a native of the island, during an opposition rally the night before.
Three members of the council had also been suspended for three months on December 13, last year, for meeting with the Indian Ambassador after the LGA banned councilors from meeting members or diplomats of foreign nations and organizations without permission from the government.
