Vantage | Is Muizzu's impeachment only way out for Maldives?

In the Maldives, law and order seem to be falling apart. On Sunday, there was a brawl in parliament. On Wednesday, it was much worse—the Maldivian prosecutor general, Hussain Shameem, was attacked, and that too in broad daylight. He was appointed as prosecutor general by the previous government, led by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, which was pro-India. Solih had appointed Shameem in 2019, and he has been serving since. On Wednesday morning, Shameem was attacked by two bike-borne assailants. Shameem had reportedly just dropped his child off at school and was on his way to work. He was at a distance from his security detail; it was then that the assailants struck. They hit Shameem with a hammer, fracturing his left hand as he tried to protect his head.

Initial reports had described it as a stabbing, but the Maldivian police have said he was not attacked with a sharp object. The attackers fled the scene; no arrests have been made yet. Shameem was taken to a hospital after the attack. He seems to be doing fine now. Shameem has promised to return “to running, cycling, and swimming” soon. The Maldivian prosecutor got lucky. It could have been far worse. The incident highlights the chaos in the Maldives. It is a country of barely half a million people. Attacks on high-ranking officials are taking place in broad daylight. It doesn’t speak highly of security under the current regime, led by pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu. But that situation may change soon. Muizzu is in trouble; the opposition wants to impeach him, and they have the numbers too. Two parties were working towards this. Former president Solih’s Maldivian Democratic Party, and a party called the Democrats. Together, they have 56 MPs, but they might get even more support. MDP says some members of Muizzu’s own party want him out and that they may work with the opposition to oust the president. If true, it seems Muizzu has alienated everyone with his rhetoric, even some of his own allies and definitely the neutrals. The leader of the Maldives’ Jumhooree, or Republican party, Qasim Ibrahim, has spoken out: “I call on President Muizzu to formally apologise to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi regarding his remarks after the China trip,” he said.

“We may be small، but that doesn’t give you the licence to bully us” HEP Dr Muizzu #Nationfirst#proMaldives pic.twitter.com/WtmDQjE6So

— Mariyam Lahufa Khaleel (@mariyam_lahufa) January 13, 2024

“We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the licence to bully us,” Muizzu had said. India and the Maldives have worked together for decades and built a lasting partnership. But Muizzu wants to undo all of that. Muizzu broke tradition by going to Beijing before visiting New Delhi. It may be good for his politics, but it has worried the politicians who care for the Maldives. The statement by Ibrahim shows that the neutrals are worried. They don’t want to swap New Delhi for Beijing. But they favour a more nuanced approach, which is why they are encouraging Muizzu to apologise and mend ties with Male’s closest partner. But will the president listen? Will he undo the damage he has done? Or, is impeachment the only way out of the Maldives? Only time will tell the answers. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.