President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih states that he will continue to stick to the bounds of the law in ruling the country, no matter “irksome” it may be, in a jab at his ally-turned-foe, Qasim Ibrahim.

Qasim, the leader of Jumhoory Party (JP), the second biggest party in the coalition that helped bring President Solih to power in 2018, has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of the administration since he decided against supporting the president’s re-election.

During a JP council meeting Saturday, Qasim voiced displeasure over the decision by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze the sale of Vaavehdhi Falhu, a lagoon owned his company, Villa, as well as the current deadlock at the Parliament.

He demanded President Solih’s resignation.

In an exclusive interview to Sun during the ceremony at the Salt Café on Sunday to hold the signing of Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir to the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), President Solih said that he has always governed within the bounds of the law, and will continue to do so in the future.

“In Sha Allah, I will continue to work within the bound of the law. No matter how close an ally,” he said, referring to Qasim.

President Solih said that he will not violate the constitution, even if its for the sake of a fellow party member or a member of his family.

“I have never interfered [in the work of independent institutions]. And I never will. Therefore, I will remain within the bounds of law even in this [Qasim’s case],” he said.

“I will not act out of the bounds of the law. If this angers anyone, no matter how much, its their problem. I, for one, will not act outside the bounds of the law.”

Qasim has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of President Solih’s administration since he rejected the president’s invitation to form a coalition for the upcoming presidential election. His party decided in February to contest the election independently.