DRP called for President’s resignation because they do not love the nation- Thaufeeg

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed’s Political Advisor, Ahmed Thaufeeg has said that the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) called for the resignation of the President with regards to the GMR issue was because they do not love the nation.

In view of the President’s request for the political parties to make a decision regarding the GMR issue, DRP Council member Ali Azim recently said that Maldives has a presidential system of government and in a Presidential System of government the President and his cabinet has the authority to annul the agreement of the former government with the GMR Infrastructure to lease Male’ International Airport to GMR. He said that if the President does not have capability to make his own decision regarding the matter than he should resign.

Rebutting this statement, Ahmed Thaufeeg told Miadhu Daily that DRP and Ali Azim cannot speak about what a Presidential System of government is to the President.

“The presidential system of government in Maldives is the same system in America. The President took his PhD studying there at that America. He is a person who lived and worked for a long time there in America. Then what will they teach the President about a Presidential system?,” Thaufeeg asked.

Thaufeeg said that when President Dr. Waheed ascended to the Presidency he decided to form a government consisting of a coalition of political parties. So in that regard he made decisions after consulting these parties. He said that this in no way means that the President is incapable of making his own decisions.

“If DRP is rejecting decision making through dialogue then their knowledge of democracy is questionable,” he said.

Thaufeeg said that the issue of GMR is a very grave concern of the people and the President wants to make a decision that will be of most benefit for the country. He said that it is for this reason that the President is consulting the political parties.