President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has warned that forming a ministry for local councils would centralise governance back to Male' and would be a major obstruction to national development. He made the remark in response to his rival Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to form a ministry tasked with empowering local councils.
Speaking to journalists, President Solih underscored instances of governmental overreach against councils in the previous administration, which involved suspensions and revocations of their authority. He said that upon assuming office, his administration reinstated their autonomy, enabling them to make independent decisions and serve the people without constraints.
At a campaign event in Nolhivaranfaru, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Dr. Muizzu criticised the current administration for not sufficiently empowering local councils and vowed to provide them with full authority in accordance with the Decentralisation Act. He said that he will make sure the councils are operating independently from the government and that they face no challenges in providing public services by establishing a ministry for local council empowerment.