Maldives faces heightened political instability

Significance

Yameen, who lost power in 2018, was sentenced to five years in jail for money laundering in 2019. The opposition Progressive Congress Coalition (PCC), which comprises two Yameen-centric parties, has recently led protests over Indian influence in the Maldives.

Impacts

• The election commission and judiciary will maintain their independence.
• China will not back Yameen publicly but will see the re-energising of the opposition as an opportunity to regain influence lost since 2018.
• Yameen will try, probably in vain, to win over politicians whom he alienated during his presidency.