MALE: The Maldives ‘ ruling party is set to win a two-thirds majority in Sunday’s ( Apr 21 ) parliamentary election, local media said, a result likely to push the Indian Ocean island nation further towards China and away from its longtime ally India.
President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress ( PNC ) is expected to win at least 62 of the 93 parliamentary seats, according to local media, while the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party ( MDP ) is projected to take 15 seats.
In a bid to control the Indo-Pacific location, Beijing and New Delhi have both won over the Islands.
President Muizzu, elected next year, has pledged to stop the government’s” India First” plan, putting ties with New Delhi under pressure. His government has asked lots of Indian martial personnel to leave the country, a move critics say could accelerate the Maldives ‘ shift towards China.
Muizzu’s post as leader is not affected by Sunday’s voting.
The PNC had requested that the majority of citizens be chosen so that the leader could fulfill his campaign promises before the poll was conducted.