Bending the rules, abusing state funds: Maldives president’s campaigning exposed
The Maldives president has made development the cornerstone of his re-election campaign.
12 Sep 2018, 9:00 AM
The government rejected proposed legal changes that would have banned sitting presidents from launching or announcing development projects during election cycles, the Maldives Independent has learned.
President Abdulla Yameen has made development the cornerstone of his re-election campaign, bragging about the amount of money spent on infrastructure since he came to power. His office has also publicised his achievements with a list of projects, their location and status although these do not match the reality on the ground.
Documents obtained by the Maldives Independent show proposals, from the Elections Commission, to bar the announcement of new projects and prevent the abuse of state resources were scrapped. The proposed amendments would have also prohibited special events during an election cycle to inaugurate projects already started by the government.
Yameen has inaugurated development projects in official visits conducted after June 8, when the EC announced the date for the 2018 presidential poll.
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