Maldives pres. sends condolences on passing of former Australian PM Bob Hawke

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent a condolence message to Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, following the death of the country’s former PM Bob Hawke.

The former leader, who served from 1983 to 1991, died on Thursday at the age of 89. Known affectionately by his nickname, "Hawkie,” he was known for embracing economic deregulation and imposing reforms which triggered a wave of economic growth.

Noting that former PM Hawke “exemplified the best traditions of statesmanship, blending a high-minded commitment to public service, with a convivial nature and genuine empathy that appealed to ordinary people,” Solih emphasized that “Australians and the rest of the world will always remember Prime Minister Hawke’s dedication towards social and environmental causes.”

President Solih also extended his condolences to the former PM’s family and friends, as well as to all Australians mourning the loss of a figure “who had been part of Australia’s political landscape and influenced it for the better over so many years.”

Following PM Hawke’s passing, his wife Blanche D'Alpuget released a statement describing her husband as "the greatest Australian of the post-war era."

Current PM Scott Morrison called him “a great Australian who led and served the country with passion, courage, and an intellectual horsepower that made the country stronger.”