President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has fired back at opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed for his remarks on Thursday that support for the president was dwindling, even within his own party.

At an event held to officially open the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s office, President Yameen said that Nasheed is responsible for advocating democratic values only to trample them when in office.

The President added that former United States President Barak Obama had effectively summed up his thoughts on Nasheed.  

“Nasheed’s poltical dialogues reflects what former President Obama said in his farewell speech, it is corrosive” he said “And men like Nasheed who preach democracy the loudest tend to crush it with most force”.

He further addressed opposition rhetoric, that Nasheed was ousted from office under duress, adding that the Nasheed administration was three years of ‘tyranny’. The President said that this had inspired him to work against Nasheed, a process that had nothing to do with law enforcement forces.

President Yameen said the Maldives is conducive for free and fair elections, and that governance will follow majority support.

“If President Yameen has the courage to contest against me, he should” Nasheed said at the press conference held in Colombo “If he does not, and I am unable to contest, we will put forth another candidate”.

He also called on the international community to assist in safeguarding democratic values in the Maldives, and expressed his confidence that it would have a ‘plan to stabilize the country’.