Pro-China Party emerges victorious in Maldives parliamentary elections: Initial Results
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s party achieved a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, as reported by local media on Monday. This outcome is expected to bring the Indian Ocean archipelago closer to China and further away from its traditional partner, India.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) led by Mr. Muizzu secured 71 out of the 93 available seats on Sunday, according to preliminary results from the Maldives Elections Commission and media projections.
Together with its coalition parties, the PNC now holds a total of 75 seats, while the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) saw a significant decrease to only 12 seats from its previous 65.
Joyful voters celebrated with party poppers and cake-cutting in their respective areas. Official PNC festivities were scheduled to commence in the evening with a rally in Male.
Competing for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, both Beijing and New Delhi have courted the Maldives. Since assuming office last year, Mr. Muizzu has vowed to move away from the country’s “India First” policy, putting strain on relations with India.
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His administration has requested numerous Indian military personnel to exit the Maldives, a move that critics believe may accelerate its shift towards China.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, aiming to bolster ties with India and the broader Indo-Pacific region amidst growing threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), stated they were closely monitoring the election results.
“We are pleased to learn that observers did not report any significant issues or irregularities and that the results reflect the will of the people,” the spokesperson remarked.
In 2023, the United States established an embassy in Male to enhance engagement in response to China’s regional influence expansion efforts.
The spokesperson referred to the Maldives as “a valued partner” and mentioned the strengthening of collaboration in fields including economic development, education, security cooperation, and climate crisis response.
Additionally, Mr. Muizzu expressed eagerness to explore collaborations under the CCP’s Belt and Road Initiative, including the enhancement of the country’s primary airport and commercial port.
Over the past decade, Chinese enterprises have invested $1.37 billion in the Maldives, making China the largest bilateral creditor, as per World Bank data.
“With the increased mandate, Muizzu now has greater flexibility and room to pursue a more balanced foreign policy. While he may seek a more diversified approach, it is unlikely that he will completely sever ties with India,” remarked Azim Zahir, a politics lecturer at the University of Western Australia.
Despite Sunday’s election, which saw 368 candidates contesting for five-year terms, Mr. Muizzu’s position as president remains unaffected.
