Former President and opposition MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed has said the current government is implementing economic policies previously criticised by parties now in power.

In a post on X, Nasheed said opposition parties had consistently portrayed the MDP as a party opposed to national and Islamic values, using the party’s policies on privatisation and the sale of state assets as evidence.

However, he said the current government had been unable to deliver the economic freedom Maldivians deserve and seek, despite adopting policies it had previously labelled as secular and contrary to national interests.

Nasheed said this was one of the reasons the public continued to trust the MDP, describing it as a party that works transparently and honestly.

His remarks come after the government signed an agreement with UAE-based Eagle Hills for a USD 20 billion development project in Rasmalé. Nasheed has expressed support for foreign investment projects of this scale, but raised concerns about the project’s location in the Greater Malé area. He has also called for the sale of state assets to generate immediate revenue.