Chief Spokesperson of Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) Ibrahim Shafiu has said that if the people desire a government without President Gayoom then such a change should be brought about by the people of Maldives and not by a specific group.
When asked to comment on the different views of the opposition that it will be easier to defeat President Gayoom by bringing out a single candidate to represent the opposition Alliance and the views that in order to defeat President Gayoom as many candidates as possible are needed Shafiu replied that the concept of a single candidate does not conform to principles of democracy. Shafiu said the objective must not be to remove President Gayoom from power but to install a government that is acceptable to the people. He said if such a government is only possible without President Gayoom then such a change should be by the people of Maldives.
“The single candidate concept is against the principles of democracy, objective is not to remove President Gayoom from power, objective is form a government acceptable to the people, to elect a leader that is acceptable to the people, if in the process President Gayoom has to step down then he will step down, if a government that is acceptable to the people can only be established without President Gayoom then it is the people who will do that, that is democracy” said Shafiu.
He further said opposition members who advocate the single candidate concept has not given any consideration to the majority of the party members. He said he was confident that the people will not support a candidate that is nominated without the support their party members.
“Those who talk about bringing out a single candidate to represent the opposition Alliance has not considered the views and thinking of the ordinary members of the Alliance, I am sure the Maldivian people will not support such a candidate, that is for sure” said Sfafiu.
He further said people join political parties because they believe in the party leadership and also in the hope that the party will eventually come to power. He said by giving up the right to lead the country which is the primary objective of a political party, the leadership of such parties are going against the hopes of the members as well as the principles of party politics.
Chief Spokesperson further pointed out every party follows certain procedures and regulations and while MDP is holding presidential primaries elect their presidential candidate, DRP’s elected leader by DRP members is the one who will be party presidential candidate. He said in both cases the support of the ordinary members are needed and that it is not democratic if the organizing committees get together and choose a candidate to represent to the Alliance without the say of the party members.
“What right have the senior officials of the organizing committees to get together and form an Alliance and say that we will bring out a single candidate, when we talk about democracy is that democracy?” questions Chief Spokesperson of DRP Shafiu.
When asked to comment on the different views of the opposition that it will be easier to defeat President Gayoom by bringing out a single candidate to represent the opposition Alliance and the views that in order to defeat President Gayoom as many candidates as possible are needed Shafiu replied that the concept of a single candidate does not conform to principles of democracy. Shafiu said the objective must not be to remove President Gayoom from power but to install a government that is acceptable to the people. He said if such a government is only possible without President Gayoom then such a change should be by the people of Maldives.
“The single candidate concept is against the principles of democracy, objective is not to remove President Gayoom from power, objective is form a government acceptable to the people, to elect a leader that is acceptable to the people, if in the process President Gayoom has to step down then he will step down, if a government that is acceptable to the people can only be established without President Gayoom then it is the people who will do that, that is democracy” said Shafiu.
He further said opposition members who advocate the single candidate concept has not given any consideration to the majority of the party members. He said he was confident that the people will not support a candidate that is nominated without the support their party members.
“Those who talk about bringing out a single candidate to represent the opposition Alliance has not considered the views and thinking of the ordinary members of the Alliance, I am sure the Maldivian people will not support such a candidate, that is for sure” said Sfafiu.
He further said people join political parties because they believe in the party leadership and also in the hope that the party will eventually come to power. He said by giving up the right to lead the country which is the primary objective of a political party, the leadership of such parties are going against the hopes of the members as well as the principles of party politics.
Chief Spokesperson further pointed out every party follows certain procedures and regulations and while MDP is holding presidential primaries elect their presidential candidate, DRP’s elected leader by DRP members is the one who will be party presidential candidate. He said in both cases the support of the ordinary members are needed and that it is not democratic if the organizing committees get together and choose a candidate to represent to the Alliance without the say of the party members.
“What right have the senior officials of the organizing committees to get together and form an Alliance and say that we will bring out a single candidate, when we talk about democracy is that democracy?” questions Chief Spokesperson of DRP Shafiu.
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