Former foreign minister and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president Abdulla Shahid said on Monday that the April local council elections could be the last transparent elections held in the Maldives, urging young voters to mobilise against the ruling party.
Speaking at a youth-focused campaign rally, Shahid said the upcoming polls might be the final opportunity for young people to vote freely. He said young people make up a large share of the population and hold decisive power over the country’s political future.
“I want to tell young people this could be the last opportunity to vote transparently,” Shahid said, addressing the crowd. He added that such remarks were not driven by fear but by what he described as clear observations of recent political developments.
Referring to the last presidential election, Shahid said he had warned voters they were electing a dictator and claimed current conditions had validated that warning.
Shahid called on voters to reject the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) in the council elections. He said the country’s future rests with young people and urged them to use their numerical strength at the ballot box.
He also said the MDP had renewed its resolve across the country, from the northern atolls to the south, and would not retreat from the contest.
The local council elections are scheduled for April. The polls will elect representatives from 225 constituencies, including local councils and Women’s Development Committees. The Elections Commission has said 621 polling stations will be set up nationwide.