Monday 30 Mar 2026
MDP’s spokesperson for local council elections Abdulla Waheed: Waheed has alleged Fenaka, RDC staff are being forced to re-register to vote in islands other than where they are currently stationed. (Photo/MDP)
As the Maldives approaches its parliamentary elections, the political climate has intensified following serious allegations from the Maldivian Democratic Party. Opposition campaign manager Abdulla Waheed has publicly warned that the current administration is prioritizing electoral victory over governance, potentially leading to systemic harassment of the public should the government retain power. These claims are underscored by concerns regarding economic mismanagement, specifically regarding fuel and gas supplies, and an alleged trend toward authoritarianism that may threaten freedom of expression and the fundamental rights of citizens.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged that the government will subject the public to various forms of harassment after Saturday’s parliamentary elections.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, former Dhidhdhoo MP and MDP campaign manager Abdulla Waheed said the government is not taking the country’s current situation seriously. He claimed the administration is now “hectic” with campaign activities and will turn its attention toward harassing the public once voting concludes.
Waheed accused the government of engaging in harmful actions solely for electoral gain. He said the public deserves transparency and warned that the administration will take steps in the future that negatively affect people’s lives.
“Today, Maldives has no oil and no gas, yet the government is fully occupied with campaigning. From what we are seeing, the public will be subjected to multiple forms of harassment after the election. This government is not taking the situation seriously; it is instead preoccupied with misleading the people.”
According to Waheed, if the government secures victory in this election, citizens will “not have a place to live freely.” He said the election results will reveal the extent to which the government intends to make life more difficult for the public in the coming days.
He further alleged that the government is shifting toward authoritarianism, claiming that people will lose the ability to speak freely and face restrictions and hardships across multiple aspects of daily life.
