Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, has said that state privileges given to former presidents should be revoked if they incite violence or disrupt national peace and stability.

Minister Saeed’s comments came in response to criticism by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih over police measures during the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) protest in Malé on Friday night. In a post on X, he argued that Solih was behaving “as if he had just discovered democracy,” despite his own administration having designated protest zones and set protocols for demonstrations.

The minister noted that Malé, a congested city of just two square kilometres, lacked sufficient public space for mass gatherings, which made such measures necessary. He stressed that the protest route had been pre-arranged between the police and the MDP, but the opposition chose to disregard the agreement.

“This isn’t some new authoritarian crackdown,” Minister Saeed wrote, calling it “common sense in a crowded city.” He praised the police for handling the protest professionally, striking a balance between safeguarding public safety and respecting the right to peaceful assembly.

Minister Saeed further argued that former presidents carried a special responsibility not to spread misinformation or undermine social order. He said it was unacceptable for those who incite unrest to continue receiving state benefits, including salaries, office allowances, and health coverage.