President Mohamed Muizzu’s ruling PNC Secures ‘Supermajority’ in Maldives Parliamentary Elections

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.