Deputy Chairperson of MDP Ali Niyaz have said that if the government loses an election, they might accuse the people of instigating a coup and announce a state of emergency.

Niyaz said that the government was welcoming court verdicts that were in their favor, but when a verdict came against the government, government refused to accept it and announced a state of emergency.

Niyaz said that this shows that if the government fails to win this year’s election they might announce a state of emergency saying that the people attempted a coup. Niyaz said that he does not believe that Maldives can be saved from this state of emergency. He said that if the court and the parliament can operate freely things might change but he does not believe that the government will give that chance.

Government stated that they did not accept the Supreme Court verdict of 1st February because there were various issues of concern in the verdict and because the Supreme Court did not agree to talk with the government regarding the problems highlighted by the government.