Pro-China party's election sweep signals Maldives' shift away from India
PTC News Desk: In a significant political shift, the People's National Congress (PNC) led by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections, securing an absolute majority. The election results, announced on Sunday, revealed that Muizzu's pro-China party clinched 66 out of the 86 seats declared in the 93-member Parliament.
The overwhelming success of Muizzu's party signifies a clear mandate from the people in support of the president's alignment with China, diverging from the country's previous "India First" policy. With the remaining seven seats yet to be announced, the PNC already surpassed the majority mark of 47 seats by a significant margin.
Muizzu, who assumed office last September as a proxy for former President Abdulla Yameen, had pledged to pivot away from the traditional ties with India, risking potential strains in the bilateral relationship. Notably, Yameen, another pro-China leader, was recently released from imprisonment following a court ruling that overturned his 11-year sentence for corruption.
President Muizzu urged citizens to participate actively in the electoral process, emphasising the importance of exercising their voting rights promptly. Despite the landslide victory for his party, Muizzu's position as President remains unaffected by the parliamentary election results.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), faced a significant setback, securing only a handful of seats in the parliament amidst the PNC's sweeping victory. This electoral outcome underscores a notable shift in Maldives' political landscape, signaling a move towards closer ties with China under Muizzu's leadership.
- With inputs from agencies
