Solheim Says Modi’s Popularity Stands Apart Among World Leaders
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains one of the most popular political leaders in the world, with few democratic leaders able to sustain that level of public support over such a long period, former Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Erik Solheim said Wednesday.
In an interview with IANS, Solheim said Modi’s standing in India is unusual by modern democratic standards and reflects both his political appeal and his long-running emphasis on national development.
“Prime Minister Modi is immensely popular in India. I think it’s very, very rare that a political leader can call upon so big support over so long time in a democracy, as Prime Minister Modi has been able to do,” Solheim said.
“Maybe back in the 1950s, when there was very high continuous growth, European leaders could dream of something like that. But in modern times, this is exceptional,” he added.
Solheim’s remarks followed a recent survey by U.S.-based data analytics firm Morning Consult, which ranked Modi as the world’s most popular leader. The survey, conducted between March 2 and March 8, gave Modi an approval rating of 68 percent, placing him ahead of other global leaders.
“At the moment, I doubt that there is any political leader anywhere in the world as popular in his home country as Prime Minister Modi,” Solheim said.
“There may be in some small states, which I cannot really think of, but in no major nation in the world, you will find a leader as popular. I mean, President Trump of the United States is not even close to the popularity of Prime Minister Modi and nor is any European leader. I think he is a true world leader,” he told IANS.
Solheim also cited Modi’s personal background as part of his political appeal, saying his rise from modest beginnings in Gujarat to one of the most prominent figures in global politics remains a powerful part of his story.
“Coming from a modest background in Gujarat, where his family was involved in selling tea at a small railway station, PM Modi’s rise to becoming one of the most influential global leaders is remarkable and inspiring,” Solheim said. (Source: IANS)
