Maldives: The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party of the Maldives has secured a clear majority in Parliament. Election results released on Sunday showed President Mohammad Muizzu’s PNC won 66 of the first 86 seats declared, granting them a super-majority in the 93-member majlis (parliament). Muizzu’s victory in the parliamentary election is significant for his plans to strengthen economic ties with China. In the previous parliament, M Muizzu has taken a pro-China stance and worked to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the Maldives’ islets.
His campaign for the presidential election centered on an “India out” theme, criticizing his predecessor for compromising national sovereignty. The Maldives’ main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), suffered a major defeat, securing only a dozen seats in Parliament. Muizzu, aged 45, cast his vote at a school in the capital Male, urging citizens to participate in large numbers.
Muizzu has also been critical of Indian military involvement in the Maldives, taking steps to replace Indian personnel with civilians for certain operations. Strained relations with India escalated further when Indian social media activists launched a boycott of Maldives tourism due to remarks made by Maldivian deputy ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Recent government statistics show a decline in the number of Indian tourists, causing India to drop from the top source of foreign visitors to the Maldives to No. 6. Meanwhile, Muizzu’s visit to China resulted in an increase in Chinese tourists and flights to the Maldives.