At the ad hoc political consultations between the EU and the Maldives on Wednesday 27 June, the European Union urged for dialogue between the country' government and the opposition.
According to the European External Action Service, the two delegations addressed the "continuing deterioration of democracy in the Maldives".
During the meeting, "the EU reiterated the importance of the Maldivian government and leaders of the opposition engaging in a genuine dialogue to address key democratic issues", the EEAS press release states, adding that "the opposition parties should be enabled to perform their role in accordance with democratic standards". Many members of the opposition are in prison or in exile.
The representatives of the EU – EEAS Deputy Secretary-General Christian Leffler, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Paola Pampaloni, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tung-Lai Margue – underlined that the parliament and the judiciary should be enabled to return to their "normal functioning in accordance with the constitution" (see EUROPE 11955).
Discussions also covered "the critical importance of credible, transparent and inclusive presidential elections in the Maldives, both for the democracy in the country and for future relations between the EU and the government of Maldives", the EEAS press release stated. The presidential elections have been set for 23 September. The outgoing president, Abdulla Yameen, will be the clear favourite, because his main two opponents are in exile or in prison.
In its conclusions, the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 February 2018, threatened targeted measures if the situation did not improve (see EUROPE 11969). These sanctions are now being prepared. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)