Maldives’ ruling coalition exposed anti-India sentiments during 2023 elections, claims report

According to a report released by the European Union, the ruling coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) stoked anti-India sentiments during the 2023 presidential elections and attempted to spread misinformation on the subject. The European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in the Maldives on Tuesday published its final report on the two rounds of elections held on September 9 and 30 last year.

After 11-week-long observations in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation at the invitation of national authorities, the EU EOM found that the campaign carried out by the PPM-PNC coalition was based on fears of Indian influence on the nation. The report said EU EOM observers noted examples of abusive language toward the president from the PPM-PNC. His campaign included anti-India sentiments, based on fear of Indian influences and concern about the presence of Indian military personnel inside the country. The topic was the subject of several online disinformation efforts.

The EU Mission noted that political and campaign fundraising and financial expenditure lacked transparency and effective oversight. The EU EOM also recorded political bias in the media, including public service media, while there were some signs of information manipulation in social media. The incumbent president at the time, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was seeking re-election last year in the country’s presidential system of government. Mohammad Muizzu of the PNC, backed by the opposition PPM-PNC alliance, defeated him and won the election with 54 percent of the votes.