Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu ruling coalition scored a landslide victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, securing an absolute majority in Parliament as voters appeared to back his government’s policy to align the Indian Ocean archipelago more closely with China.
The election result could further strain relations between the Maldives and India, already at a fresh low over Muizzu’s efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on New Delhi in areas ranging from defence to food security.
Results declared by the Maldives’ Election Commission and trends reported by the local media showed that Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) party and its allies, Maldives National Party (MNP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), were set to win close to 70 seats or a “super majority” in the 93-member People’s Majlis or Parliament.
More than 284,000 voters were eligible to participate in the polls to choose the 93 members of Parliament for the next five years, and officials put the turnout at more than 73%.
Muizzu, a former minister of construction, has pledged to combat rising sea levels by embarking on ambitious land reclamation projects and constructing elevated islands, a strategy criticised by environmentalists for potentially worsening flooding risks.
While the Maldives is renowned for its luxurious holiday destinations featuring pristine beaches and exclusive resorts, it has also emerged as a focal point of geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean, given its strategic location along global shipping routes.
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