The Parliamentary Group Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the party’s campaign manager for the upcoming Local Council Elections, Ibrahim Falah, has rejected opposition claims that local councils are needed as an additional mechanism to hold the Government accountable.

Speaking at the opening of the PNC’s Central Henveiru campaign booth, Falah urged the public to critically assess statements made by opposition parties, particularly claims that they are set to win the elections in order to “hold the Government accountable”.

Falah was responding to assertions by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that failure to win the Local Council Elections would weaken its ability to hold the Government to account.

Referring to previous remarks by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Falah said the structure of the Maldivian State already provides sufficient checks and balances. He noted that a state is founded on three main branches of power: the executive, legislative and judicial.

Under the 2008 Constitution, Falah said, these three branches are fully separated and designed to exercise oversight over one another. As such, he argued that there is no need to create what he described as a “fourth power” in the name of accountability.

Falah further alleged that the opposition is attempting to obstruct Government development projects under the guise of holding the Government accountable.