Maldives ruling coalition deployed anti-India sentiments during 2023 presidential polls: EU report
The Hindu
The ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) deployed anti-India sentiments and attempted to spread disinformation around this theme during the 2023 presidential elections, according to a report issued by the European Union.
The ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) deployed anti-India sentiments and attempted to spread disinformation around this theme during the 2023 presidential elections, according to a report issued by the European Union.
The European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Maldives published its final report on January 9 on the two rounds of election that took place on September 9 and 30 last year.
Following an 11-week-long observation in the archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean, upon the invitation of national authorities, the EU EOM found the campaign run by the PPM-PNC coalition was based on fears of Indian influences on the nation.
"EU EOM observers noted instances of derogatory language, directed towards the president, on the side of PPM-PNC,” reads the report.
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“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,” it said.
The EU mission noted that political and campaign fundraising and financial expenditure lack transparency and effective oversight. The EU EOM also recorded the political partisanship of the media, including public service media, while there were some indications of information manipulation in social media.
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