PNC Deputy Leader Shuja says government 'ruined' by previous administration's loans

Ibrahim Shuja, Deputy President of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) and Member of Parliament for Baarash constituency, stated today that the current government has been "ruined" within three years due to having to repay loans taken by the previous administration. Speaking during the debate on next year's proposed budget, Shuja accused the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, of spending over 200 billion rufiyaa in state budget expenditure. "What is the result? Debt, fraud," Shuja said. Shuja heavily criticized the previous government, describing that the Salih administration prepared the state budget "without fear, just having fun." He noted that if state expenses increase, the budget will also grow larger. Shuja also pointed out that subsidies increased by 3.75 billion rufiyaa due to a war that started in the Middle East in late February last year. He stated that without the war, this year's budget would have been balanced. Referring to a claim by MDP presidential candidate Faisal Ismail that the country would go bankrupt by April 2026, Shuja said, "How cleverly they calculated and reached that point, His Excellency the President must know that the country will go bankrupt in April 2026. So did it happen? No, Your Excellency the President." Shuja concluded, "We are ruined, Your Excellency the President. During these three years [the loans taken by the previous government] were paid off, Your Excellency the President, and there was no benefit to the people." He described the projected budget for next year as an optimistic one.