The main ruling Peoples National Congress (PNC) has secured a comfortable supermajority in the Maldives parliamentary election.
The Maldives held its parliamentary election on Sunday, with polling stations open from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. Additional Boxes were also placed at three locations abroad in India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. With 368 candidates competing for 93 seats, a total of 284,663 individuals were eligible to cast their votes.
The parliamentary election reflected the trend from the presidential election, with the ruling PNC clinching a comfortable supermajority with 66 seats. The main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which enjoyed a supermajority in the 19th Parliament, faced a disappointing outcome of 12 seats while the Democrats secured zero seats. While independent candidates won 11 seats, government-aligned parties Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) took two seats, and Maldives National Party (MNP) and Jumhooree Party (JP) one seat each. MDP-aligned Adhaalath won zero seats.
Key victories included Fathmath Saudha, sibling of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, winning the Nilandho seat, and Ahmed Saleem, PNC's current PG leader, retaining his seat for a fourth term. His son, newly contesting Ibrahim Naufal, took the Mulah seat.
In Male' City, 12 out of 17 seats were secured by PNC, and 3 by MDP, one by MNP and one by an independent candidate backed by the government. Of the eight Addu City seats, PNC took five seats while MDP secured two, and one independent. All five seats of the cities, Fuvahmulah and Kulhudhuffushi were secured by PNC candidates.
Meanwhile, sitting Speaker, and one of the longest-serving MPs, Mohamed Aslam lost his Hithadhoo North seat after four terms to ruling PNC's Mohamed Sinan. Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, also from the MDP, lost his Hoarafushi seat.
Other notable losses included Eva Abdulla and Imthiyaz Fahmy, both aligned with the Democrats, leaving the parliament after completing three terms. Eva's seat was taken by MDP while Imthiyaz's seat was secured by MNP's President Mohamed Nazim. Ali Azim, sitting MP for Central Henveiru who has also served three terms, was also not re-elected.
In celebration of their historic victory, the ruling party is hosting an event at Artificial Beach in Male' City on Monday night at 8:30 pm.
