MPs of the ruling coalition have backed a constitutional amendment setting age limits for the presidency against the wishes of ex-president Gayoom, who has said the amendment will only bring president Yameen into disrepute.
The leader of the opposition Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim has announced he will retire from politics once his five-year term as Maamigili MP expires in 2019, and says he no longer wants to run for president.
Prosecution in a major drug bust and a murder case were stalled this month because of the state’s failure to summon witnesses.
The opposition Jumhooree Party spokesperson Ali Solih has been accused of unlawfully leasing an island to a company owned by a cabinet minister during his tenure as the minister of state for fisheries and agriculture.
In a message to JP MPs on Sunday, the tourism tycoon and MP, said: “I request you to vote for the proposal to set age limits on presidential and vice-presidential candidates.”
MP Ahmed Mahloof was among nine protesters arrested from a peaceful opposition protest tonight. Some 2,000 people staged a sit-in at Malé’s central junction, in the lowest turnout at a major opposition activity.
Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb has said he expects an increase in Chinese investment in Maldives tourism following the lease of a second island for resort development to Chinese companies. “More Chinese investors will follow,” he said.
An agreement was penned today during President Abdulla Yameen’s visit to China for carrying out the ongoing feasibility survey of the Malé-Hulhulé bridge project with Chinese grant aid.
The Maldivian economy grew at 8.5 percent in 2014, the central bank has said. Growth was driven by a solid increase in tourist arrivals and the strong recovery of the construction sector.
