President Abdullla Yameen has said that senior individuals, who are currently in public life, need to step up aside in order to make opportunities for the young and that Maldivians do not want aged leaders in office.

He said this at an event to officials congratulate new members of the Progressive Party of Maldives.

President Yameen further said that Maldivians neither want longstanding leaders either, who stay on office for ‘excessive terms’.

He said this was the reason behind the government-sponsored proposal that enter parliament in 2015, that capped the maximum age for contesting for office at 65 and lowered the minimum age requirement to 35.

In his speech, the president had praised his half-brother, former longstanding president, Maumoon Abdul Gayooom. Gayoom is also the head of Yameen’s rival faction within the divided Progressive Party of Maldives.