Sep 18, 2025
Letters

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Dear Editor,

APNU’s defeat in the 2025 polls, in my view, stems from a loss of public trust built up over several years. The most damaging blow was the widely condemned handling of the 2020 General and Regional Elections—seen by many at home and abroad as an attempt to subvert the will of the electorate. That episode left a lasting credibility gap that APNU never closed.

Voters also judged the coalition’s record in office. When APNU held the majority in 2015, it scrapped the schoolchildren’s cash grant—an immediate hit to household budgets. It also introduced a range of new taxes that increased the cost of living and deepened the burden on ordinary people. Compounding this, key campaign promises were not kept, reinforcing the perception that the party’s words and deeds did not align.

These choices alienated many traditional supporters, who felt they were being taken for granted. By contrast, the ruling party led by President Ali was seen as delivering: meeting the commitments set out in its manifesto, accelerating visible development, and rolling out measures that offered relief to families and businesses. In a climate where tangible outcomes matter, that performance gap proved decisive.

Elections are ultimately referenda on trust and delivery. APNU’s perceived breaches of both—first in how 2020 was handled, then in its policy reversals—explained why so many turned away from APNU in 2025. Meanwhile, President Ali’s government benefited from the opposite impression: that promises were kept and progress was real.

Sincerely,

Philip Inshanally

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