New Delhi: The European Union, in a report on the September 2023 Presidential Election in Maldives, has noted that the ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) utilised "anti-India sentiments" during the polls held in the country on September 9 and 30 last year. The final report submitted by the European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Maldives concluded that the PPM-PNC poll campaign remained centred around concerns over Indian influences on the island nation.
“Their campaign included anti-Indian sentiments, based on fears of Indian influences and anxiety regarding a presence of Indian military personnel inside the country. This theme was subject to multiple online disinformation attempts,” said the report, seen by ABP Live. The EU EOM had been invited by the authorities of the Republic of Maldives to observe the 2023 election process, noted the report submitted after an 11-week-long observation.
In the run-up to the election, Maldives saw the opposition's “India Out” campaign gain momentum. Noting that the campaign led by the opposition had started in 2020 but was banned by a presidential decree that criminalised such demonstrations in April 2022, the report said: "This was seen as a controversial decision, in part for restricting the freedom of expression. Over the last decade, the previous PPM administration has been seen as closer to China and the MDP administration as closer to India."
Then president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), sought re-election last year but Mohamed Muizzu of the PNC, supported by his party's coalition with PPM, secured victory.
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EU Report Amid India-Maldives Diplomatic Row
The EU EOM report comes amid an ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives over certain derogatory posts by three Maldives ministers targeted at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dispute started after Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep triggered a debate on social media as Indian users posted how the archipelago of 36 islands was better than Maldives as a tourist destination, and it prompted India to summon the High Commissioner of Maldives.
The Maldives government has since indefinitely suspended the three ministers, and a Maldives foreign ministry spokesperson also clarified that the comments made by Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Sharif, and Mahzoom Maajid were personal, and did not reflect the views of their government.
However, the remarks generated quite a rage in India, with many cancelling their scheduled trips to the island nation.
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India-Maldives Ties
Ever since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023, India and Maldives have seen an escalation in diplomatic tensions. In a complete reversal of the ‘India First’ policy that Maldives had pursued since 2018, the Muizzu administration has gone back to the time when Malé was closer to China.
Muizzu is currently on a five-day state visit to China, where he met President Xi Jinping Wednesday. Malé and Beijing are learnt to have chalked out plans to establish China-Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024-2028). Maldives and China also signed 20 pacts, which include Jointly Accelerating the Formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road Initiative, Action Plan on Building a China-Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024-2028), an MoU on Exchange and Cooperation in the Field of Economic Development Policy, and another on tourism cooperation.
Besides, both sides signed a $50 million deal for the Commercial Spine Project — touted to be the biggest ever commercial project — to be developed in Hulhumale over 290,000 square feet.
Maldives plays an important role in India's regional initiatives such as the 'Neighbourhood First Policy' and 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region).