EU Report Reveals Anti-India Sentiments in Maldives' 2023 Elections
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) released its comprehensive report on the 2023 presidential elections held in the Maldives on September 9 and 30. The report highlights concerning trends surrounding the campaign strategies of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) coalition.
After an extensive 11-week observation period, during which the EU EOM closely monitored the electoral process at the invitation of national authorities, the mission uncovered troubling tactics employed by the PPM-PNC coalition. The campaign conducted by this coalition was found to heavily emphasize and exploit fears regarding Indian influence within the Maldives.
According to the EU EOM report, observers noted instances of derogatory language directed at the president from the PPM-PNC side. The campaign strategy prominently featured anti-Indian sentiments, leveraging concerns about perceived Indian influences and expressing anxiety regarding the presence of Indian military personnel within the country. Furthermore, the report highlighted multiple attempts at disseminating online disinformation aimed at amplifying these fears.
"Their campaign included anti-Indian sentiments, based on fears of Indian influences and anxiety regarding the presence of Indian military personnel inside the country. This theme was subject to multiple online disinformation attempts," stated the report.
The EU EOM's findings shed light on the concerning nature of the rhetoric employed during the election period, emphasizing the exploitation of anti-India sentiments as a campaign strategy by the ruling coalition.
The revelations made by the EU EOM report may have significant implications for the political landscape of the Maldives. It remains to be seen how these findings will be addressed within the country and how they might impact diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India.
The report's release has sparked discussions both domestically and internationally, drawing attention to the role of such sentiments in electoral campaigns and their potential repercussions.
The EU EOM's comprehensive report stands as an important document, highlighting observations and concerns regarding the use of anti-India sentiments in the Maldives' recent presidential elections.
