In a noteworthy political shift, Adam Azim, the candidate of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has secured victory as the newly elected mayor of Male, triumphing over the People’s National Congress led by President Mohamed Muizzu.
In a significant blow to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Adam Azim, the candidate from the opposition party Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), emerged triumphant in the mayoral elections of Male, amidst the backdrop of the ongoing diplomatic tensions with India. Muizzu had stepped down from his position in 2023 to pursue the presidential elections.
Azim’s victory was described as a “landslide,” securing a substantial margin. He garnered 5,303 votes from the 41 counted boxes, surpassing his rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC), who managed to secure 3,301 votes.
The election transpired with a meager voter turnout, overshadowed by a controversy sparked by offensive remarks from three deputy ministers within the Muizzu administration directed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
These remarks triggered a social media uproar in India, leading to calls for a boycott of Maldives by Indian tourists, who constituted the largest group of visitors, followed by Russians in second place and the Chinese in third.
In response to the comments, Muizzu took swift action by suspending the three ministers and, in an effort to mend relations, embarked on a recent state visit to China.
During the visit, Muizzu announced that China had extended a substantial $130 million in assistance to Maldives. He outlined that this financial support would be allocated to various developmental projects, with a primary focus on enhancing the infrastructure of Male, particularly through the significant development of roads.
At the conclusion of Muizzu’s discussions with top Chinese leaders, a joint statement emphasized their mutual commitment to robustly support each other in safeguarding their respective core interests. Additionally, the two nations formalized an agreement permitting Maldivian, the national airline of Maldives, to conduct domestic flight operations in China.
During Muizzu’s visit to China, a substantial $50 million agreement was sealed to develop a tourism zone in Hulhumale and construct 30,000 social housing units in Rasmale.
However, his diplomatic engagements in China were not without challenges, as they coincided with not only the strained relations with India but also the release of a report by the EU Election Observation Mission of Maldives.
The report highlighted allegations that the ruling coalition, comprised of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), had employed anti-India sentiments and disseminated disinformation during the 2023 presidential elections, which resulted in Muizzu’s victory.
Following his visit to China, the Maldivian President asserted that despite the country’s size, it did not grant others the authority to intimidate them.
While not explicitly naming any nation, Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, emphasized, “We may be small, but that doesn’t authorize anyone to bully us.” He went on to highlight the collective ownership of the ocean, stating, “This ocean is not the exclusive domain of a particular nation. The (Indian) Ocean is shared by all the countries situated around it,” in what appeared to be a subtle jab at India.
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