Maldives ruling President Mohammed Muizzu’s coalition wins 'super majority' in parliamentary elections.
The ruling People’s National Congress has won an overwhelming three-fourth of the parliamentary seats with the Maldivian Democratic Party relegated to a state where it has received its lowest tally ever.
The latest provisional results released on Maldivian media says that People’s National Congress (PNC) has won 71 seats in the 93-member Majlis, a figure which is being called a "super-majority" in Maldivian polity.
It has exceeded the majority that MDP had received in the last parliamentary elections. Around 72% of the electorate turned out to vote in the parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 22, which was the first major political fight for President Muizzu after he took over his current post last November.
This was the lowest voting percentage in Maldives parliamentary elections since political parties were allowed to contest in 2009.
Immediately after counting began at 6 pm local time, the results began to trickle in fast and quick.
The results are a major boost for President Muizzu, who went into the elections faced with internal factionalism in his own ruling coalition, as well as estrangement from his political mentor, former President Abdulla Yameen.
All the candidates for the ruling coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives and People’s National Congress (PPM-PNC) stood in elections under the PNC banner.
Muizzu’s victory will also be noted in India, which has had to accommodate the new government’s demand for withdrawal of Indian troops operating three aircrafts in the Indian Ocean island nations.
The MDP chairman Fayyaz Ismail conceded defeat, describing the results as disappointing. He also congratulated PNC for their victory.
