In a recent development reported by Maldives-based Sun Online, President Mohamed Muizzu’s ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has emerged victorious with a supermajority in the Maldives Parliament. The party secured an impressive 60 seats in the parliamentary elections held last Sunday.
The parliamentary elections witnessed the participation of over 200,000 voters, with 326 candidates vying for 93 seats in the upcoming parliamentary assembly, which includes the addition of six new seats. Among the contenders, candidates from the ruling party of Maldives contested 90 seats.
Other participating parties included 89 candidates from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 39 from the Democrats, 10 from the Jumhoory Party (JP), four from the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), four from the Adhaalath Party (AP), two from the Maldives National Party (MNP), along with 130 independent candidates.
Preliminary results indicate that President Mohamed Muizzu’s PNC has clinched victory in over 60 seats, representing roughly two-thirds of the total seats. This count excludes independent candidates supported by the party, as well as candidates from the MNP and MDA, both allied with the ruling coalition.
It’s worth noting that in the 2019 elections, the then-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) secured a supermajority with 64 seats, while the opposition PPM-PNC coalition managed only eight seats, as reported by Sun Online.
In the 2014 elections, the then-ruling PPM secured a majority, according to Sun Online. The only ruling party unable to secure a majority was the MDP in the 2009 elections.
Significant tensions arose between India and the Maldives following President Mohamed Muizzu’s assumption of office. He openly criticized India during and after the presidential elections, and his administration formally requested the withdrawal of Indian troops from Male.
However, in a shift of stance in March, Muizzu appealed to New Delhi for debt relief measures, reaffirming India’s status as the Maldives’ “closest ally,” as per local media reports. He emphasized that he had refrained from taking any actions or making statements that could strain the bilateral relationship.
During an interview with local media outlet ‘Mihaaru,’ Muizzu expressed hope that India would consider accommodating debt relief measures for the Maldives, particularly in light of the substantial loans acquired from India by consecutive administrations. He stressed the importance of continuing ongoing projects without interruption and expressed optimism about maintaining positive Maldives-India relations.