Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer has stated that the results of the 2017 local council election would not affect the government's development policies. He made this statement, answering a question posed by a journalist at a press conference held by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The Tourism Minister maintained that today's results have cleared the path for determining a course of action to win the 2018 presidential election. Minister Zameer said that, success from the united efforts by PPM, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) in the 2017 Local Council Election, is a huge step towards success in the 2018 Presidential Election.
img:http://s4.psmnews.mv/images/660x400/14940698440069.jpg|Voting process of the 2017 Local Council Election - Photo: PSM
Addressing the press conference, Majority Leader at Parliament Ahmed NIhan Hussain Manik noted that the 2014 local elections and the 2013 presidential election stand proof that the political ideology that dominates in an island community would not deter delivery of development projects earmarked for that community, by the government. Nihan also highlighted that PPM has been victorious in all the local elections held since the implementation of the Decentralization Act. He also announced that a large majority of elected independents would be working with PPM either directly or indirectly.
Nihan attributed low voter turnout in some administrative areas, to low performance by outgoing councils.He expressed disappointment at the absence of a city council in Male' that would work with the government in municipal issues. Nihan vowed to address grievances of citizens in administrative areas where PPM faced defeat, using the existing reform mandate of the party. Both Nihan and Zameer maintained that today's results have cleared the path for determining a course of action to win the 2018 presidential election.