People's National Congress (Maldives)

Last updated
People's National Congress
AbbreviationPNC
President Mohamed Muizzu
Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla
Secretary-GeneralMuaz Haleem [1]
Governing bodyUpper house
Cabinet of Members
Spokesperson Heena Waleed
Vice Presidents
Founder Abdulla Yameen
Founded31 January 2019 (2019-01-31)
Malé, Maldives
Split from Progressive Party of Maldives
HeadquartersSea Track L7, Maafannu, Malé, Maldives
MembershipIncrease2.svg 28,983 [3]
Ideology
Political position Centre-right to right-wing
People's Majlis
75 / 93
Party flag
Flag of People's National Congress.svg
Website
pnc.mv

Membership as of 19 September 2024

The People's National Congress, [a] abbreviated as PNC, is a political party in the Maldives founded in January 2019 and the current governing party. [4] 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. [5]

Contents

The PNC was founded with support from Yameen by Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla, and was also joined by Nilandhoo MP Abdulla Khaleel. [5] [6] They then became president and vice president of the party, respectively, shortly after.

History

2019–2023

The PNC formed an alliance with the PPM on 2 February 2019, and together operated as the "Progressive Congress Coalition". [7]

The PNC won 3 seats in the 19th Parliament, namely Vice Presidents Mohamed Saeed (Maavah constituency) and Adam Shareef Umar (Maduvvari constituency), and Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed (Felidhoo constituency). Interim party leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla lost his seat in Fonadhoo constituency.

The party is scheduled to hold its Inaugural National Conference in late April 2019, where appointments for full-term party positions will be made. On 26 April 2019 the congress was held and former MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, former MP Ibrahim Shujau and former Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed was elected the vice-presidents of the party. [8] However, after former MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik departed the party, former Fenaka Managing Director Mohamed Nimal was appointed vice-president of PNC. [9]

2023–present (ruling party)

On 30 September 2023, the PNC candidate, Mohamed Muizzu, won the second-round runoff of the Maldives presidential election, beating incumbent president, Ibrahim Solih, with 54% of the vote. [10]

On Friday 17 November 2023, PNC became the ruling party of Maldives after Muizzu took office. [11]

In the days following, the internal discord within the PPM-PNC coalition increased, and came to a head on Thursday. The faction aligned with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was demanding the Muizzu's resignation. On Thursday night, Yameen resigned from his position as the leader of the PPM and declared his intention to leave the party, signaling his plan to establish a new political entity named the People's National Front. [12]

Opposition to Israel Passport Ban

In 2024, Maldivian MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem submitted a bill to the parliament calling for a ban on entry for Israeli passport holders. [13] However, President Mohamed Muizzu’s party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), has faced criticism for delaying the bill’s implementation through the parliament, raising concerns that it may be a public relations move rather than a genuine effort to enforce the ban. [14]

Illegitimate party membership

In December 2024, it was found out that many people were being switched political parties to PNC. [15] Ranging from former state ministers as well as parliamentarians from the opposition. [16] [17] It was alleged that the Homeland Minister Ali Ihusaan was recruiting under age individuals to join by collecting personal information, which he denied. [18]

Election results

President elections

ElectionParty candidateRunning mateVotes%Votes%Result
First roundSecond round
2023 Mohamed Muizzu Hussain Mohamed Latheef 101,63546.06%128,92954.06%ElectedGreen check.svg

People's Majlis

YearParty LeaderVotesVote %Seats+/–
2019 Abdul Raheem Abdulla 13,9316.63
3 / 87
New
2024 Mohamed Muizzu 101,12048.06
66 / 93
Increase2.svg 63

Party Leaders

Party LeaderYearOfficePreceded bySucceeded by
Abdul Raheem Abdulla portrait.jpg Abdul Raheem Abdulla 2019-2023President Office established Mohamed Muizzu
Dr Muizzu in December 2023.jpg Mohamed Muizzu 2023-present [19] President Abdul Raheem Abdulla Incumbent
Hussain Mohamed latheef.jpg Hussain Mohamed Latheef 2023-presentVice presidentMultiple VPs Incumbent

See also

Notes

  1. Dhivehi: ޕީޕަލްސް ނެޝެނަލް ކޮންގްރެސް

Related Research Articles

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Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 7, 9 and 16 November 2013. The first round was held on 7 September. As no candidate received a majority, a second round was planned to be held in 28 September between the candidates who received the most votes in the first round, former President Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen, paternal half-brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Incumbent President Mohammed Waheed Hassan was eliminated in the first round after receiving less votes than three other candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldives Reform Movement</span> Political party in the Maldives

The Maldives Reform Movement is a political party in the Maldives officially founded on 20 November 2019. The Elections Commission (EC) authorized the formation on 2 October 2019. The party was registered by Yumna Maumoon but was founded by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom after disagreements with Abdulla Yameen about the direction of the Progressive Party of Maldives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim Mohamed Solih</span> President of the Maldives from 2018 to 2023

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Frequently referred to as Ibu, is a Maldivian politician who served as the 7th President of the Maldives from 2018 to 2023. Solih was a parliamentarian for 15 years, he represented the Hinnavaru constituency and the Lhaviyani Atoll constituency during his tenure. He played a significant role in the democratic reforms of the Maldives and led the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to victory in the 2018 presidential election. Solih was elected president on 23 September 2018 after winning the 2018 presidential election as the candidate for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). His presidency focused on democratic governance, environmental sustainability, and strengthening international relations.

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Raheem Abdulla</span> Speaker of the Peoples Majlis since 2024

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.

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The following lists events that happened during 2024 in the Maldives.

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Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 21 April 2024, having previously been scheduled for 17 March. The election date was changed to April after President Mohamed Muizzu ratified election postponement bill by the People's Majlis passed on 28 February. 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.

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References

  1. "Defence state minister Muaz appointed as PNC Secretary General". Atoll Times. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  2. "Party Leaders". People's National Congress. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. "Peoples National Congress". Elections Commission of Maldives . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. Shaahunaz, Fathmath (24 January 2019). "Electoral watchdog finally permits formation of new party PNC". The Edition . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  5. 1 2 "EC authorizes formation of Yameen's new party". The Edition . 27 December 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  6. "Top court hears former ruling party's leadership dispute". Maldives Independent. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  7. Mohamed, Shahudha (28 April 2019). "PNC will lead Maldives' future political decisions: Abdul Raheem". The Edition . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  8. "Sheikh Imran Abdulla appointed as Minister of Home Affairs". The President's Office . 2 December 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  9. "Nimal elected as the Vice President of PNC". PSM News. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  10. Junayd, Mohamed (1 October 2023). "Maldives opposition candidate Muizzu wins presidential vote". Reuters . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  11. "New Maldives president promises to expel foreign military personnel". Al Jazeera . 17 November 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. "Yameen faction demands President Muizzu's resignation, a week into term". Sun. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  13. Mohamed, Mariyath (31 May 2024). "MDP submits bill to parliament calling to ban Israeli passports". The Edition. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  14. "PNC MPs reject resolution to expedite bill banning Israeli passports". Raajje TV . 20 November 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  15. Mohamed, Mariyath (30 December 2024). "Have received complaints of falsified party switching: Elections Commission". The Edition. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  16. Shahid, Malika (6 January 2025). "Incorrect form submitted to EC under ex-state minister Thoriq's name". The Edition. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  17. Osmanagic, Ameera (13 January 2025). "MP Ziyad unknowingly registered to PNC, MP status in question". The Edition. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  18. Shahid, Malika (15 January 2025). "Minister Ihusan denies claims of underage party recruitment". The Edition. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  19. "Dr. Muizzu appointed as PNC President". Avas. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.