Presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Yameen has accused Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate, former president Mohamed Nasheed of employing foreign policies that allowed undue influence into the country’s domestic affairs.
Speaking on Television Maldives' (TVM) Raajje Miadhu program Wednesday night, Yameen said that the degree of foreign influence depends on how much the government allows international partners to comment on internal matters. A PPM government would work to improve foreign relations, he said.
“They influence internal affairs when the person in-charge of the government increases the opportunities to comment on internal matters. We have noticed Nasheed facilitated these opportunities in his presidential campaign too,” Yameen said.
He also noted that there were relatively few comments by the international community on the unrest that occurred following the controversial change of power on 7 February 2012.
“We didn’t see the same degree of concern from the international community over the damages and atrocities the Maldivian people suffered in 7 February, as opposed to their concern over the delay in the presidential election now. They pushed it aside and we saw them calling for prompt election. That is how Maldives will see peace, they said” Yameen said.
He said foreign representatives make their decisions based on what they see during visits and that the situation of the Maldives can accurately be felt by the Maldivian people.
Speaking on the economy, Yameen said certain measures are needed to get the economy back on track and that PPM’s manifesto details strategies to reduce the government’s recurrent expenses. A PPM government can bring the budget deficit to zero within two years, the presidential candidate said.