Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has stated the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih does not obstruct freedom of expression. He made the statement in response to a question at the fifth programme of the Ask Speaker series.

Speaking at the programme, Speaker Nasheed said he has not seen President Solih’s administration try to obstruct freedom of speech and expression, and does not believe there are efforts to do so. However, the speaker stated the constitution does not grant freedom of expression without limits and boundaries. He said these boundaries must be respected, especially when it could affect diplomatic relations established with other countries.

During the programme, Speaker Nasheed was also asked if he might contest in the presidential election next year as an independent candidate after leaving the main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). In response to this question, the speaker said he hopes to remain at MDP till his last day and would definitely not be seen in another party. He said MDP has a vision for the future, and will seek ways to resolve internal conflicts and implement its development vision for the country.

During the programme, Speaker Nasheed answered questions on parliamentary work, as well as other political and social matters. The speaker highlighted the important work carried out by the parliament across the last two terms, including several important bills.

Source: psmnews

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has convened his cabinet of ministers on June 28 to brief them about his successful visit to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, and to deliberate on the current state of affairs in the country. The meeting was held at the President’s Office.

CHOGM 2022 was the first such meeting since the Maldives’ re-accession to the alliance. The Maldives initially joined the Commonwealth of Nations on July 9, 1982, but withdrew membership on October 13, 2016. The Commonwealth accepted the Maldives’ application for re-admission on February 1, 2020, welcoming it as the 54th member and marking the fulfilment of one of President Solih’s administration’s inaugural pledges.

The CHOGM 2022 was themed around “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.” Held from June 20-25, CHOGM brought delegates from 54 nations who sought to strengthen multilateral cooperation, explore new opportunities, and address shared challenges facing future generations.

At the meeting, President Solih briefed the ministers on the findings of the cabinet subcommittee investigating the disruption of an event held at the National Stadium on June 21. The cabinet also discussed the latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and the recently announced “Gedhoruveriya” and “Binveriya” housing schemes.

Source: psmnews