Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has said responsible opposition political parties should acknowledge Government policies and initiatives that benefit the public instead of opposing every action taken by the Government.

Speaking on the latest edition of "Presser with the Spox", Shareef made the remarks in response to questions about recent comments by senior Government officials, including President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, that there is currently no effective opposition political party in the Maldives.

Shareef said the role of political parties extends beyond contesting elections, noting that they receive State funding and are therefore expected to fulfil wider responsibilities. He said one of those responsibilities is to recognise Government initiatives that serve the public interest instead of opposing every Government decision for political reasons.

The Spokesperson said responsible political parties should welcome policies that benefit the public rather than reject them solely because they are introduced by the Government.

Referring to the period when the current Administration was in opposition during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shareef said it had publicly supported some measures introduced by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government because they were considered to be in the public interest. He added that the opposition had also put forward suggestions on how those measures could be improved.

Shareef said opposing every Government policy or decision is not consistent with the responsibility expected of a political party. He added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's recent remarks were intended to highlight that principle.