Former President Mohamed Nasheed has praised the Maldives’ democratic progress, asserting that the world no longer views the country as a failed state.
Speaking to local media on the occasion of the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, Nasheed said that while institutions such as the UNDP once questioned the country’s ability to build an independent economy, the Maldives has since defied expectations. He noted that the Maldives is now considered a middle-income nation with a productivity level of $6 billion and a per capita income of $14,000.
Nasheed also credited former President Ibrahim Nasir for playing a pivotal role in laying the foundation for such development.
He reflected on his own experiences under previous authoritarian regimes, recalling his imprisonment in 1989 for writing an article and the persecution faced by journalists and editors involved in the publication of Sangu magazine.
Nasheed remarked that today, no political leader in the Maldives is imprisoned, and basic democratic rights such as freedom of expression are now protected. He stressed that this shift marks a significant milestone in the nation’s democratic journey.
He concluded by commending the Maldivian people for their achievements in building a functioning democracy over the past six decades.
Speaking to local media on the occasion of the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day, Nasheed said that while institutions such as the UNDP once questioned the country’s ability to build an independent economy, the Maldives has since defied expectations. He noted that the Maldives is now considered a middle-income nation with a productivity level of $6 billion and a per capita income of $14,000.
Nasheed also credited former President Ibrahim Nasir for playing a pivotal role in laying the foundation for such development.
He reflected on his own experiences under previous authoritarian regimes, recalling his imprisonment in 1989 for writing an article and the persecution faced by journalists and editors involved in the publication of Sangu magazine.
Nasheed remarked that today, no political leader in the Maldives is imprisoned, and basic democratic rights such as freedom of expression are now protected. He stressed that this shift marks a significant milestone in the nation’s democratic journey.
He concluded by commending the Maldivian people for their achievements in building a functioning democracy over the past six decades.
