Maldives: Pro-China party led by Muizzu wins by landslide

In a legislative election, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s group won a landslide win cementing his hold on the presidency.

Provisional results show the People’s National Congress ( PNC ) won 66 seats in the 93-member house.

The victory, according to experts, provides strong support for Mr. Muizzu’s strategy of establishing nearby ties with China.

Mr Muizzu, who is widely seen as pro-China, wants to reduce India’s historic effect in his land.

Local media have described the PNC’s win, which will be ratified in several days ‘ time, as a” super majority”. It has the two-thirds in congress needed to amend the constitution.

The Maldivian Democratic Party ( MDP ), the main opposition, has only managed to win 15 seats. Due to Sunday’s ballot it had the majority of seats in congress.

Azim Zahir, a Maldives researcher and lecturer at the University of Western Australia, calls this a remarkable accomplishment for Mr. Muizzu.

” From a social institutional see, Mr Muizzu now essentially controls everything. He could potentially control the judiciary as well, as suggested by Mr. Zahir.

Mr Muizzu came to power soon last year and his strategy was centred on ending the region’s” India first” legislation, that was adopted by the previous state. He is yet to make a formal attend to Delhi.

He has promised to send home all American forces based in the Island, to reduce Delhi’s effect.

Two helicopters and an aeroplane were maintained and used in the Maldives by about 85 American military personnel. Delhi gave the aeroplane a few years ago.

American military personnel have already left the Islands, and human technical staff from India has taken their place. By May 10th, the Island ‘ remaining soldiers are scheduled to leave.

Person’s relations to Delhi have been strained by his decision to send the Indian army, and Beijing has come out in force to take advantage of that.

In January, Mr. Muizzu signed various investment treaties while on a state attend to Beijing.

Men and China signed a “military assistance” agreement in March to provide free access to non-lethal weapons and provide training for the Malay security forces. The Yemeni government had previously been trained by India and the US.

There is now more room to create a healthy international plan. Men will become increasingly dependent on Beijing, according to Mr. Zahir, but if New Delhi does n’t manage the relations well and refuses to assist him.

A year is expected to pass before the election results are officially approved on Sunday.

According to the Maldivian Election Commission, the turnout for voters in Sunday’s poll was about 73 %, but it was lower than the 82 % who voted in 2019.

Following the outcomes, a top MDP head congratulated Mr. Muizzu quickly.

The party’s chairman, Fayyaz Ismail, wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, that” MDP’s MPs will be ready to work with the government to better our democratic values and carry it accountable as a responsible criticism.