High-Stakes Election In Maldives Puts Focus On Pro-China President Muizzu's Foreign Policy Stance On India

The Maldives is currently conducting its fourth multi-party parliamentary election, which is being closely watched as a test for President Mohamed Muizzu's stance on India and his perceived alignment with China as per a report by Hindustan Times.

A total of 368 candidates are competing for 93 seats in an atmosphere marked by allegations traded between the main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC).

Approximately 285,000 Maldivians are eligible to vote, with results expected by early Monday (22 April).

The Maldives, renowned for its luxurious holiday destinations, has become a geopolitical focal point due to recent events, including the expulsion of Indian military troops and the awarding of major infrastructure contracts to Chinese state-owned companies.

President Muizzu — who assumed office last year as a proxy for the pro-China former president Abdulla Yameen — has demonstrated a pro-China stance, diverging from the previous alignment with India.

Since taking office, Muizzu has made several decisions, such as awarding infrastructure contracts to Chinese companies, signalling his alignment with China.

In January, Muizzu requested India to withdraw all Indian military personnel from the archipelago. Following discussions, India agreed to withdraw its troops under the condition that an equivalent number of Indian civilians would operate the aircraft.

According to a senior aide of Muizzu, "Geopolitics is very much in the background as parties campaign for votes in Sunday's election. He came to power on a promise to send back Indian troops and he is working on it. The parliament has not been cooperating with him since he came to power."

These elections are significant for India as the current parliament, dominated by the pro-India Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has hindered Muizzu's efforts to realign the archipelago's diplomacy and improve ties with neighbouring nations, including India.

India anticipates that the MDP, the main opposition and pro-India faction, will secure a majority, allowing for robust legislative scrutiny over executive actions.

A diplomatic conflict between India and the Maldives arose this year when some Maldivian leaders made derogatory comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked his visit to Lakshadweep.

India strongly objected to the comments, leading to a decline in Indian tourist arrivals in the Maldives. The Maldivian government distanced itself from the remarks and took action by suspending three ministers who made the comments.