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All 93 seats in the People's Majlis 47 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 21 April 2024, [1] previously scheduled for 17 March 2024. [2] The election date was changed to April after President Mohamed Muizzu ratified election postponement bill by the People's Majlis passed on 28 February. [3] [4] Due to Grade 7, 8 and 9 exams scheduled for 16–27 April clashing with the parliamentary election date, the Ministry of Education decided to bring forward the tests to 27 March–25 April. [5]
The result was a landslide victory for Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC) and a heavy defeat for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which won a similar landslide in the 2019 elections. The results were seen as an endorsement of Muizzu's plan to press ahead with closer economic cooperation with China and a rebuke of the pro-India MDP, which had sought to disrupt efforts to realign Maldivian diplomacy. [6] [7]
The election was held amid a dispute between President Mohamed Muizzu and the outgoing People's Majlis, which blocked several of his initiatives as well as the appointment of three of his nominated cabinet members. [8]
The 93 seats in the People's Majlis are elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. [9] Prior to the elections, the number of seats was increased from 87 to 93, with six new seats created. [10] In the election, 98 constituencies are being contested by a total of 368 candidates, while around 284,000 people are eligible to vote. [1]
Seats in the People's Majlis are split in conformity of Article 10 of the Electoral Constituencies Act which emphasizes stabilization of equal balance amid representation of parliamentary seats. The Act stipulates that two representatives must be appointed for a populace of 5000 or fewer in an administrative division with an additional seat allocated to account for a population surge of another 5000 constituents. [11]
Consequent to the observation of population increases across several regions within the last five years, the number of constituencies was increased to 93 with six new constituencies added to the earlier 87 seats in the 19th parliamentary term. [12] [13]
List of constituencies | |||
---|---|---|---|
SL No. | Code | Constituency | Total Voters |
1 | A01 | Hoarafushi Constituency | 3,540 |
2 | A02 | Ihavandhoo Constituency | 3,457 |
3 | A03 | Baarashu Constituency | 3,483 |
4 | A04 | Dhidhoo Constituency | 3,078 |
5 | A05 | Kelaa Constituency | 3,188 |
6 | B01 | Hanimaadhoo Constituency | 3,128 |
7 | B02 | Nolhivaram Constituency | 3,316 |
8 | B03 | Vaikaradhoo Constituency | 2,813 |
9 | B04 | Kulhudhuffushi Uthuru Constituency | 3,559 |
10 | B05 | Kulhudhuffushi Dhekunu Constituency | 3,514 |
11 | B06 | Makunudhoo Constituency | 3,457 |
12 | C01 | Kanditheemu Constituency | 3,510 |
13 | C02 | Milandhoo Constituency | 3,085 |
14 | C03 | Komandoo Constituency | 3,412 |
15 | C04 | Funadhoo Constituency | 3,400 |
16 | D01 | Kendhikulhudhoo Constituency | 3,267 |
17 | D02 | Manadhoo Constituency | 3,139 |
18 | D03 | Velidhoo Constituency | 3,030 |
19 | D04 | Holhudhoo Constituency | 3,063 |
20 | E01 | Alifushi Constituency | 3,635 |
21 | E02 | Ungoofaaru Constituency | 3,313 |
22 | E03 | Dhuvaafaru Constituency | 3,479 |
23 | E04 | Inguraidhoo Constituency | 3,574 |
24 | E05 | Maduvvari Constituency | 3,368 |
25 | F01 | Thulhaadhoo Constituency | 3,426 |
26 | F02 | Eydhafushi Constituency | 2,527 |
27 | F03 | Kendhoo Constituency | 2,591 |
28 | F04 | Hithaadhoo Constituency | 2,401 |
29 | G01 | Hinnavaru Constituency | 3,808 |
30 | G02 | Naifaru Constituency | 4,094 |
31 | G03 | Kurendhoo Constituency | 2,089 |
32 | H01 | Kaashidhoo Constituency | 2,853 |
33 | H02 | Thulusdhoo Constituency | 2,074 |
34 | H03 | Maafushi Constituency | 2,825 |
35 | H04 | Huraa Constituency | 2,345 |
36 | I01 | Maamigili Constituency | 2,878 |
37 | I02 | Mahibadhoo Constituency | 2,685 |
38 | I03 | Dhangethi Constituency | 2,538 |
39 | J01 | Felidhoo Constituency | 1,039 |
40 | J02 | Keyodhoo Constituency | 915 |
41 | K01 | Dhiggaru Constituency | 2,698 |
42 | K02 | Mulaku Constituency | 2,795 |
43 | L01 | Bileydhoo Constituency | 2,459 |
44 | L02 | Nilandhoo Constituency | 1,950 |
45 | M01 | Meedhoo Constituency | 2,697 |
46 | M02 | Kudahuvadhoo Constituency | 3,155 |
47 | N01 | Vilufushi Constituency | 2,905 |
48 | N02 | Thimarafushi Constituency | 2,874 |
49 | N03 | Kinbidhoo Constituency | 3,268 |
50 | N04 | Guraidhoo Constituency | 2,707 |
51 | O01 | Isdhoo Constituency | 3,305 |
52 | O02 | Gamu Constituency | 3,869 |
53 | O03 | Fonadhoo Constituency | 3,064 |
54 | O04 | Maavashu Constituency | 3,038 |
55 | P01 | Vilingili Constituency | 2,742 |
56 | P02 | Dhaandhoo Constituency | 2,623 |
57 | P03 | Gemanafushi Constituency | 2,967 |
58 | P04 | Kolamaafushi Constituency | 2,358 |
59 | Q01 | Thinadhoo Uthuru Constituency | 2,954 |
60 | Q02 | Thinadhoo Dhekunu Constituency | 2,679 |
61 | Q03 | Madaveli Constituency | 3,141 |
62 | Q04 | Faresmaathodaa Constituency | 3,494 |
63 | Q05 | Gadhdhoo Constituency | 3,455 |
64 | R01 | Fuvahmulaku Uthuru Constituency | 3,648 |
65 | R02 | Fuvahmulaku Medhu Constituency | 3,070 |
66 | R03 | Fuvahmulaku Dhekunu Constituency | 2,843 |
67 | S01 | Hulhudhoo Constituency | 2,843 |
68 | S02 | Feydhoo Dhekunu Constituency | 2,706 |
69 | S03 | Maradhoo Constituency | 2,754 |
70 | S04 | Hithadhoo Uthuru Constituency | 4,028 |
71 | S05 | Hithadhoo Medhu Constituency | 4,280 |
72 | S06 | Hithadhoo Dhekunu Constituency | 4,071 |
73 | S07 | Addu Meedhoo Constituency | 2,287 |
74 | S08 | Feydhoo Uthuru Constituency | 2,989 |
75 | T01 | Hulhumaale Dhekunu Constituency | 3,193 |
76 | T02 | Medhu henveyru Constituency | 3,010 |
77 | T03 | Henveyru Dhekunu Constituency | 2,675 |
78 | T04 | Henveyru Uthuru Constituency | 2,402 |
79 | T05 | Galolhu Uthuru Constituency | 3,914 |
80 | T06 | Galolhu Dhekunu Constituency | 4,033 |
81 | T07 | Machangoalhi Uthuru Constituency | 2,842 |
82 | T08 | Mahchangoalhee Dhekunu Constituency | 2,691 |
83 | T09 | Maafannu Uthuru Constituency | 3,878 |
84 | T10 | Maafannu Hulhangu Constituency | 3,555 |
85 | T11 | Maafannu Medhu Constituency | 3,697 |
86 | T12 | Maafannu Dhekunu Constituency | 2,884 |
87 | T13 | Vilimalé Constituency | 3,227 |
88 | T14 | Henveyru Hulhangu Constituency | 2,806 |
89 | T15 | Mahchangoalhi Medhu Constituency | 2,820 |
90 | T16 | Hulhumalé Medhu Constituency | 4,230 |
91 | T17 | Hulhumalé Uthuru Constituency | 3,220 |
92 | U01 | Mathiveri Constituency | 2,950 |
93 | U02 | Thoddoo Constituency | 3,024 |
Total Voters: 284,663 |
The Parliamentary Elections Regulations include a comprehensive code of conduct aimed at regulating the behavior of candidates and their supporters during the campaign period. However, concerns were raised over restrictions imposed by the code on freedom of expression and campaigning. [14]
Despite these concerns, the campaign leading up to the parliamentary elections was relatively peaceful. The Maldives Police Service indicated that they did not anticipate any major disruptions, disturbances, or protests either during the campaign period or on Election Day. However, there were potential risks of some disturbances, particularly due to the alleged links of several candidates to gangs. [14]
One key concern was the possibility of disagreements or clashes between supporters of rival candidates, especially in light of incidents during the People's National Congress (PNC) and Maldivian Democratic Party primaries. The Maldives Police Service said they were prepared to handle any such scenarios that may arise. [14]
For this election, the PNC entered into a coalition agreement with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), but solely fielded candidates from the PNC, contesting to secure all but three seats this term. The constituencies they had relinquished offered leeway for political leaders of Jumhooree Party (Qasim Ibrahim vying for the Maamigili seat), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA)'s Ahmed Siyam running for the Meedhoo Constituency and Maldives National Party (MNP)'s Mohamed Nazim contesting for the North Maafannu seat, with Special Advisor to the President, Abdul Raheem Abdulla affirming that these seats were forfeited in a bid to display respect to these leaders. [15]
The People's National Congress had 90 candidates, followed by the Maldivian Democratic Party with 89 candidates. There were 130 independent candidates among 93 constituencies and four candidates from the Adhaalath Party and the Jumhooree Party. Two candidates contested from the Maldives National Party.
Party | Number of Candidates | |
---|---|---|
Independents | 130 | |
People's National Congress | 90 | |
Maldivian Democratic Party | 89 | |
The Democrats | 39 | |
Jumhooree Party | 10 | |
Adhaalath Party | 4 | |
Maldives Development Alliance | 4 | |
Maldives National Party | 2 | |
Total | 368 | |
Source: The Edition |
Allegations of vote buying and undue influence were made on election day. [16] [17] Initial results suggested that the president's party, the People's National Congress was on course to win at least 70 seats. [18] [19] Maldivian media described the results as giving a supermajority for the PNC, with its numbers allowing it to achieve the two-thirds in the People's Majlis that is required to amend the constitution. The PNC's successes came at the cost of the MDP, which itself held a supermajority in the outgoing Majlis and lost its strongholds of Malé, Addu City and Kulhudhuffushi to the PNC. [20]
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Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
People's National Congress | 101,128 | 47.48 | 66 | +63 | |
Maldivian Democratic Party | 65,476 | 30.74 | 12 | –53 | |
The Democrats | 4,634 | 2.18 | 0 | New | |
Maldives Development Alliance | 4,071 | 1.91 | 2 | 0 | |
Jumhooree Party | 3,141 | 1.47 | 1 | –4 | |
Adhaalath Party | 2,538 | 1.19 | 0 | 0 | |
Maldives National Party | 1,060 | 0.50 | 1 | New | |
Independents | 30,931 | 14.52 | 11 | +4 | |
Total | 212,979 | 100.00 | 93 | +6 | |
Valid votes | 212,979 | 98.10 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 4,120 | 1.90 | |||
Total votes | 217,099 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 284,663 | 76.27 | |||
Source: ECM, ORF |
MDP chair Fayyaz Ismail congratulated the PNC for winning the election but vowed that it would continue to "hold it accountable as responsible opposition". [21] Several independent candidates who won in the election later joined the PNC, pushing its total number of seats to 73. [22] [23]
The United States Department of State said it was "glad to hear observers reported no major issues or irregularities, and that the results are indicative of the will of the people". [24]
The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean. The modern nation is formed of 26 natural atolls, comprising 1194 islands. Historically, the Maldives has held strategic importance due to its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives's nearest neighbors are the British Indian Ocean Territory, Sri Lanka and India. The United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and some Indian kingdoms have had cultural and economic ties with the Maldives for centuries. In addition to these countries, Maldivians also traded with Aceh and many other kingdoms in what is today Indonesia and Malaysia. The Maldives provided the primary source of cowrie shells, which were then used as currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Most probably, Maldives were influenced by Kalingas of ancient India who were earliest sea traders to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from India, responsible for the spread of Buddhism. Stashes of Chinese crockery found buried in various locations in the Maldives also show that there was direct or indirect trade contact between China and the Maldives. In 1411 and 1430, the Chinese admiral Zheng He (鄭和) visited the Maldives. The Chinese also became the first country to establish a diplomatic office in the Maldives when the Chinese nationalist government based in Taipei opened an embassy in Malé in 1966. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has since replaced this office.
The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the Head of Government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet; like many presidential democracies, each member of the cabinet need to be approved by the Parliament. The President, along with their pick for vice president, is directly elected by the denizens to a five-year term by a secret ballot. Once in office, they could be re-elected to a second 5-year term, which is the limit allowed by the Constitution. The current President of the Maldives is Mohamed Muizzu, when his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih lost the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.
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The Progressive Party of Maldives, is a political party in the Maldives with a total membership of 35,044 as of 25 April 2024. The stated goal of the party is driving Maldives towards an independent and democratic, safe and secure, high income, high human capital, developed nation state with a diversified and robust economy whilst preserving its Islamic heritage.
Abdulla Shahid, is a Maldivian politician who served as President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly between 2021 and 2022 and is the current President of the Maldivian Democratic Party. Shahid is the first Maldivian politician to hold that post. He had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2023.
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Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 22 March 2014. The Progressive Party of Maldives and its allies won 53 seats.
Rozaina Adam is a Member of Parliament in Maldives, who represents the Addu Meedhoo constituency. She was a member of Parliament since August 2008 to April 2024.
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The People's National Congress, abbreviated as PNC, is a political party in the Maldives founded in January 2019 and the current governing party. The party's formation was spearheaded by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who had been in a dispute with the leadership of the Progressive Party of Maldives.
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The following lists events that happened during 2023 in the Maldives.
Mohamed Muizzu is a Maldivian politician and engineer who has been serving as the 8th president of the Maldives and leader of the Progressive Congress coalition since 2023. He previously served as housing minister from 2012 to 2018, making him the longest-serving housing minister in Maldivian history. Muizzu was the mayor of Malé from 2021 until his resignation in 2023.
Abdul Raheem Abdulla more popularly known as Adhurey is a Maldivian politician currently serving the 21st speaker of the People's Majlis since 28 May 2024 before which he was serving as a Special Advisor to the President of Republic of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu. He is the chairman of People's National Congress.
The following lists events that happened during 2024 in the Maldives.
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Hussain Shameem is a Maldivian lawyer who served as the Prosecutor General of the Maldives from December 2019 until his resignation on 22 August 2024.