Lawmakers need to think twice before sticking with Pres. Yameen: MP Waheed

Thulusdhoo constituency MP Mohamed “Waddey” Waheed has said that lawmakers need to think twice about the results of the Local Council Elections, before making the decision to stick with President Abdulla Yameen.

He made the comment while speaking at Tuesday’s gathering of the opposition coalition, in Maafannu Kunoooz.

He said that the results of the council elections held on Saturday “are the people’s message to President Yameen’s government”, adding that those parliamentarians whose constituencies that did not take majority “need to think deeply about the results”.

He used speaker Abdulla Maseeh’s loss of grip of his constituency as an example, saying that “the results prove that the people of South-Fuvahmulah are not with Maseeh”, adding that this means that they do not accept the unlawful activities he is conducting by remaining as speaker.

“We, in parliament, do not accept Maseeh as speaker and worked to remove him, as a result at the next election, what did his constituents tell him? Do not use force to remain as speaker, we are giving you a message, and if you want to be elected for another term, listen to our message”, said Waheed.

He further noted that as President Yameen continued to increase the expenses “beyond the reach of people”, and that they were forced to beg President Yameen, adding that the President “gave a deaf ear to the people’s needs”.

“As a result, the government lost majority of Addu City Council, Malé City Council and Kulhudhuffushi Council”, he noted.

While the Elections Commission is yet to announce the full results of the Local Council Elections- they announced results for three constituencies on Tuesday- provisional results show the opposition to be leading with over 300 of the 664 seats.