Maldives President Muizzu Sets Record with 15-Hour Press Conference

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu set a new world record by holding a press conference for nearly 15 hours, surpassing the previous record set by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The event, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted 14 hours and 54 minutes with only brief prayer breaks, coincided with World Press Freedom Day and featured Muizzu answering a wide range of questions from journalists and the public. Muizzu used the occasion to highlight the importance of factual, balanced, and impartial reporting, and to celebrate the Maldives' rise in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. The session was attended by about two dozen reporters who were provided with food. The Muizzu administration has introduced initiatives to strengthen media independence and improve journalists’ access to information. Notably, a former Maldivian president previously set a different world record by holding the first underwater cabinet meeting to draw attention to climate change threats.