Maldives’ ruling coalition, consisting of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), has been accused of deploying anti-India sentiments and spreading disinformation during the 2023 presidential elections, according to a report released by the European Union (EU). The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) conducted an 11-week-long observation in the country and found that the PPM-PNC coalition’s campaign was centered around fears of Indian influences on the nation.
The report highlights instances of derogatory language directed towards the president from the PPM-PNC side, stating that their campaign included anti-Indian sentiments based on concerns about Indian influences and the presence of Indian military personnel in the country. The report also mentions multiple attempts at online disinformation regarding this theme.
In addition, the EU EOM noted the lack of transparency and effective oversight in political fundraising and financial expenditure. The mission also observed political partisanship in the media, including public service media, and indications of information manipulation on social media.
The report acknowledges that both political camps engaged in negative campaigning, with one side suggesting a return of a repressive government and the other alleging unfulfilled government promises, corruption, and foreign intervention. Accusations regarding the presence of Indian military were repeatedly emphasized.
During the 2023 presidential elections, Mohamed Muizzu of the PNC, backed by the PPM-PNC coalition, defeated the incumbent president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), with 54% of the votes.
The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Nacho Sánchez Amor, praised the technical administration and delivery of the presidential election by the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM). However, the report highlights the absence and underrepresentation of women in the political competition and administration of the election. It also mentions the widely acknowledged practices of vote-buying and instrumentalization of public office, which undermined equity and fairness in the campaigning process.
The EU EOM report provides 20 recommendations for the improvement of future elections in Maldives, including fact-checking initiatives to combat misinformation and measures to promote women to leadership positions in public and political life.
The report’s release coincides with an ongoing controversy between India and Maldives, where India summoned the High Commissioner of Maldives following derogatory posts made by three deputy ministers after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshwadeep. The Maldives foreign ministry spokesperson clarified that the comments were personal and did not represent the government’s views.
(Note: This story has been rewritten to ensure uniqueness and avoid plagiarism. The original story was published by NDTV and has not been edited by their staff.)
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