Advisor to the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, Ahmed Nareesh, has said that Major General (Rtd) Moosa Ali Jaleel, the People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate for Mayor of Malé City, has the leadership qualities required to effectively lead the city council.

Speaking on MMTV’s Bodu Khabaru programme, Nareesh said many of the ruling PNC’s candidates contesting the upcoming local council elections are already serving in office, adding that the inclusion of new candidates has further strengthened the party’s overall team.

Referring to Jaleel, Nareesh said the mayoral candidate has a strong record of national service and the ability to run the council efficiently. He noted that Jaleel served for many years in the Maldives National Defence Force and led large teams during his career, which he said demonstrates his leadership capacity.

“He has leadership qualities and extensive experience leading people through his service in the MNDF. There is no doubt that he has what it takes to lead a team,” Nareesh said.

Using a football analogy, Nareesh said the PNC has assembled a strong “first eleven” following the return of several members to the party. He said this strength extends across council elections and Women’s Development Committee elections, adding that PNC candidates are better positioned than the opposition.

“We see the first eleven as a very promising team. These are candidates who can perform well, score goals and cover all areas,” he said.

Nareesh also referred to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure as Mayor of Malé City, noting that a strategic plan introduced at the time continues to guide the council’s work.

He added that if candidates aligned with the Government’s vision are elected, the President’s policies would be implemented more effectively at council level.