President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the parliament has been a key partner in aligning the government's strategic plan with the wishes of the people.

While delivering his presidential address at the parliament's first sitting on Monday morning, the president expressed his joy over the change in the country's general atmosphere over the past year and noted that 2019 had been a successful year for democracy in the Maldives'.

Further, he stressed that the parliament has been a key partner in governance and aligning the government's strategic plan with the wishes of the people. As such, he attributed the country's present tranquility to the member's efforts in carrying out the required positive changes to this country’s constitutional and legislative structure.

The president also thanked the 19th parliament for passing 27 out of a total of 49 bills presented by the government. Highlighting that these 49 bills consist of 32 bills proposing amendments to existing laws and 24 bills for completely new laws, the president expressed his confidence in the members to provide support for the bills.

Moreover, the president claimed that the country has observed a good example of three branches of the State functioning independently whilst providing support and enforcing accountability. Noting that the citizens benefit from state institutions upholding democratic values, the president added that the people have more to gain if the branches of our State continue to utilize power within their constitutional authority.