Maldivians are the biggest winners of Saturday's election: President

The biggest winners of the parliamentary election are the Maldivian people, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In a statement on the day after the election, the President said successfully holding the election under peaceful conditions is clear win for the whole society.

He also highlighted how the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s campaign had been issue-oriented and not based on hatred and divisions, and that the government did not hinder candidates with opposite views.

Although some of the government coalition partners were the government’s opponents in the election, President Solih assured that the coalition remains intact and that he has not forgotten the hard work of coalition partners in saving the country from President Abdulla Yameen’s rule. He said that he will continue to work with the coalition leaders to ensure that the government delivers its pledges to the people.

“I also congratulate all the individual winners, especially the MDP which has secured a huge majority in Majlis. While we celebrate, we must also not forget the immense challenges that lie ahead of us. The work to strengthen our democratic institutions, to deliver basic services for citizens, to our promise of bringing corruption, past and present to book and ending impunity starts now. I look forward to working with all of you to realize our promises to the people.”

President Solih also congratulated the various institutions who ran a smooth and exemplary election, including The Elections Commission, the police service and the defence force.