In an unprecedented move on World Press Freedom Day, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu engaged in a marathon 15-hour press conference on Saturday, breaking what the Maldivian government claims is a world record for the longest press briefing by a head of state. The event, which began at 10:00 AM and ended at 12:55 AM the next day, saw the 46-year-old president present his administration’s achievements and face a barrage of questions from journalists and members of the public.
The conference kicked off with a two-hour presentation in which Muizzu laid out progress on 2,129 manifesto pledges. It continued with brief breaks for prayer, and journalists were served food as they navigated the nearly 15-hour session. According to AFP, citing the President’s Office, the feat surpassed the previous record held by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
While Muizzu celebrated developments under his leadership, including advances in infrastructure and governance digitisation efforts with Estonia, the president repeatedly deflected on several contentious topics. These included a refusal to disclose the number of political appointees, allegations of judicial interference, and multiple corruption scandals involving key officials.
Pressed on his campaign promise to limit political appointees to 700, Muizzu insisted all appointments were necessary and pointed to a new three-month appraisal system. He acknowledged that MVR 32 million (US$2 million) is spent monthly on salaries for political staff, which he said comprises about 3% of the public sector wage bill.
Regarding the recent suspension of three Supreme Court justices just days after a shake-up in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Muizzu maintained that the timing was purely coincidental and denied any foreknowledge or interference. Yazmeed Mohamed, who replaced lawyer Mohamed Sameer on the JSC, now chairs an investigation into alleged ethical violations by justices.
The president also addressed public concerns over a wide range of issues, from stalled land reclamation projects and alleged misuse of the national ID database, to accusations involving close family members and media influence. He firmly denied any wrongdoing or undue influence, including ties to Turkish businessmen, misuse of state resources, or involvement in the arrest of former immigration chief Shamaan Waheed.
In a rare acknowledgment, Muizzu said a new law would be introduced to cap the number of political appointees. He also announced proposals for sweeping constitutional amendments, such as mechanisms to recall MPs, abolish atoll councils, and hold concurrent presidential and parliamentary elections.
Further highlights from the press event included:
- Cancellation of controversial foreign reclamation deals.
- Scrapping plans to overhaul subsidy systems in favour of cost-saving measures via state-owned enterprises.
- An estimated MVR 2 billion still owed to local businesses, down from MVR 9 billion.
- Ongoing efforts to increase electricity capacity in Addu and Fuvahmulah.
- Assurance that the final list of social housing recipients would resolve existing complaints.
Defending his frequent visits to the presidential retreat island of Aarah, Muizzu said 85 of his 116 visits were to play futsal with friends, with the total cost of fuel for the trips amounting to MVR 844,635 (US$55,000).
In a symbolic nod to the occasion, Muizzu reiterated his support for a free press, stating, “I believe in the power of factual, balanced, and impartial reporting.” The press conference coincided with the Maldives’ rise by two spots to 104th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.
The spectacle drew comparisons to former President Mohamed Nasheed’s underwater cabinet meeting in 2009, underscoring the Maldives’ history of attention-grabbing political statements. While Muizzu’s performance may set a new benchmark for presidential transparency—or stamina—it has also opened him to fresh scrutiny over governance and accountability.
