Parliamentary majority for MDP is important to fulfilling hopes of the people: Nasheed

The judicial and state ‘overhaul’ promised by the government coalition will only come to be if the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) receives a majority in parliament, former president Mohamed Nasheed has said.

Nasheed, the party’s founder, said this during an event to launch the campaign for a candidate contesting MDP’s primary election in January.

In his address on Wednesday night, Nasheed said that one of the biggest obstacles to establishing a just society in the Maldives is the status of the local judiciary.

Nasheed said that any reform of the judiciary can only be brought through parliament and so highlighted the importance of electing trustable and individuals with integrity to the People’s Majlis.

The former president also said that ‘history has twice shown’ that if MDP does not receive a majority, the ‘hopes’ of the citizens will not be fulfilled and that previous failure to fulfill pledges, even after his own election in 2008 was due to traction within the Majlis.

Nasheed said that while the government is obliged to fulfill their pledges to ensure justice and basic needs such as sanitation and shelter, which can realistically be achieved, Maldivians deserve ‘a lot better’ than what they currently get.

The parliamentary elections have been scheduled for April 6th.