Pro Chinese party wins in Maldives

 

The recent parliamentary election in the Maldives has resulted in a landslide victory for President Mohamed Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC) party, securing 66 seats out of 93 in the house. Here are the key points regarding this development:

1. Pro-China Policy: President Muizzu's victory is seen as a significant endorsement of his policy to strengthen ties with China. His party's decisive win reflects strong support for reducing India's longstanding influence in the Maldives.

2. Super Majority: With a two-thirds majority in parliament, the PNC has the power to amend the constitution, indicating a consolidation of control under President Muizzu's leadership.

3. Shift in Foreign Policy: President Muizzu aims to shift away from the previous government's "India first" policy and has pledged to send home Indian troops stationed in the Maldives. This move has strained relations with India but has opened doors for closer cooperation with China.

4. China's Influence: China has shown interest in deepening its engagement with the Maldives, signing agreements for investments and providing military assistance, including non-lethal weapons and training for the Maldivian security forces.

5. Foreign Policy Balancing Act: While President Muizzu seeks to establish a more balanced foreign policy, the extent of the Maldives' reliance on China will depend on how relations with India evolve. If India does not engage constructively, the Maldives may increasingly turn to Beijing for support.

6. Voter Turnout: The voter turnout in the election was about 73%, lower than in previous years. Despite this, the election results are expected to be formally ratified in the coming week.

7. Opposition Response: The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accepted the election results and expressed willingness to work with the government while holding it accountable as a responsible opposition.

Overall, President Muizzu's victory signals a significant shift in the Maldives' foreign policy orientation towards closer ties with China, with potential implications for regional geopolitics in the Indian Ocean region.