The primary opposition party in the Maldives is poised to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Mohamed Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China inclinations. The Maldivian Democratic Party, holding a parliamentary majority, has commenced the collection of signatures to commence the impeachment filing.

Opposition factions have strongly criticized President Muizzu for his pro-China stance, particularly following the government’s authorization for a Chinese spy ship to dock in Male. A significant parliamentary altercation unfolded recently, prompting the opposition’s decision to pursue impeachment.

A crucial vote on parliamentary approval for the Muizzu administration, scheduled for Sunday, saw violence erupt as government MPs from the PPM/PNC party disrupted the proceedings.

In recent weeks, President Muizzu, who initially assumed power with an overtly anti-India stance, has encountered resistance, notably in the diplomatic dispute with New Delhi sparked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s extensively circulated post about his visit to the Lakshadweep islands. Three ministers making contentious remarks were subsequently dismissed.

President Muizzu’s recent demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in the country by mid-March marked a heightened anti-India rhetoric, portraying the presence of around 80 Indian troops as a security threat to the island nation. This abrupt policy shift, diverging from the traditional perception of India as a friend and ally, garnered disapproval from the opposition, especially intensified after the incident involving the Chinese spy ship.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats jointly accused the government of a “blatant” anti-India pivot, issuing a press statement that characterized this policy shift as “extremely detrimental” to the country’s long-term development. The statement emphasized that “alienating any development partner, especially the country’s most longstanding ally, will be highly detrimental to the long-term development of the country,” underscoring the significance of security and stability in the Indian Ocean for the Maldives.

Both the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats underscored the vital imperative for successive administrations to uphold the capability “to collaborate with all development partners for the welfare of the people of the Maldives, as the nation has historically practiced.”