2019 Maldivian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 6 April 2019.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Maldivian Democratic Party, which won 65 of the 87 seats in the People's Majlis.

2019 Maldivian parliamentary election

6 April 2019
All 87 seats in the People's Majlis 44 seats needed for a majority
Leader Mohamed Nasheed Qasim Ibrahim Abdulla Yameen Party MDP JP PPM Leader's seat Machangoalhi Central Maamigili Not contesting Last election 26 seats, 40.79% 15 seats, 13.56% 33 seats, 27.72% Seats won 65 5 5 Seat change 39 10 28 Popular vote 96,354 23,452 19,176 Percentage 45.83% 11.15% 9.12% Swing 5.04% 2.41% 18.60%   Leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla Ahmed Shiyam Mohamad Party PNC MDA Leader's seat Fonadhoo (lost seat) Meedhoo Last election – 5 seats, 4.04% Seats won 3 2 Seat change New 3 Popular vote 13,931 6,636 Percentage 6.63% 3.16% Swing New 0.88%
Speaker of the People's Majlis before election Qasim Ibrahim JP Elected Speaker of the People's Majlis Mohamed Nasheed MDP

Electoral system

The 87 seats in the People's Majlis were elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system.[2] Prior to the elections the number of seats was increased from 85 to 87, with two new seats created in Malé; Machangoalhi Central was created by splitting Malé Central, whilst Hulhu-Henveiru was split into two new constituencies, Henveiru West and Hulhumalé.[3][4]

Campaign

Prior to the elections, talks about forming an opposition alliance were held between the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), the Jumhooree Party (JP), the Adhaalath Party (AP) and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, with a proposed agreement that the MDP would contest 40% of constituencies, the JP 25%, Gayoom supporters 20% and the AP 15%. However, the MDP opted to contest the elections alone after rejecting their proposed seat distribution as being too low.[5]

In December 2018 the PPM announced the names of 42 candidates for the elections, including 24 incumbent MPs.[6] However, later in the month, former President Abdulla Yameen announced plans to leave the party and join the People's National Congress (PNC) due to a legal dispute over the leadership of the PPM.[7] The PNC had been founded by Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla with support from Yameen, and was also joined by Faafu Nilandhoo MP Abdulla Khaleel.[7][8] The PPM and PNC would later announce an alliance for the election. Two other parties, the Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party and the Maldives Third Way Democrats, were also founded in preparation for the elections.

The MDP held primary elections in January 2019, with 279 candidates running to become the party's nominees in 77 seats; in nine seats there was only one potential candidate, whilst there were no candidates for the PPM stronghold of Faafu Nilandhoo. Voting was open to around 86,000 party members, with five incumbent MPs being defeated.[9] Former president Mohamed Nasheed was selected as the Machangoalhi Central candidate.[10]

Results

Initial results suggested that the Maldivian Democratic Party was on course to win at least 59 seats, up to a maximum of 68 seats, in the legislature.[11] Ultimately, the MDP won 65 out of the 87 seats. This was the first time since a democratic government was established in 2008 that a single party had been voted into power without the need for a coalition. It is also the first time a party or coalition had been elected with a two-thirds majority, which would enable the legislature to remove judges from the bench. If any other MPs choose to support the government, the MDP faction will reach a three-fourths majority, and will be able to pass amendments to the Maldivian constitution.[12] Elected MPs take office on 28 May.

Former President Mohammed Nasheed was elected to represent Central Machchangoalhi five months after returning from exile, becoming the first former Maldivian president to be elected to Parliament. Additionally, he is expected to lead the MDP in the legislature.[12]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Maldivian Democratic Party	96,354	45.83	65	+39
	Jumhooree Party	23,452	11.15	5	–10
	Progressive Party of Maldives	19,176	9.12	5	–28
	People's National Congress	13,931	6.63	3	New
	Maldives Development Alliance	6,636	3.16	2	–3
	Adhaalath Party	4,423	2.10	0	–1
	Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party	314	0.15	0	New
	Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party	373	0.18	0	0
	Maldives Third Way Democrats	293	0.14	0	New
	Independents	45,301	21.55	7	+2
Invalid/blank votes		4,800	–	–	–
Total		215,053	100	87	+2
Registered voters/turnout		264,442	81.32	–	–
Source: Commonwealth

References

1. Maldives postpones parliamentary elections The Edition, 16 December 2018
2. Electoral system IPU
3. Two new constituencies for 2019 parliamentary elections Archived 2019-09-09 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent, 6 November 2018
4. EC announces official electoral constituencies for parliamentary election The Edition, 6 November 2018
5. MDP to go it alone in parliamentary elections Archived 2019-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent, 2 December 2018
6. PPM awards ticket for parliamentary elections Archived 2019-11-04 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent
7. EC authorizes formation of Yameen's new party The Edition, 27 December 2018
8. Top court hears former ruling party’s leadership dispute Archived 2019-11-17 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent, 15 January 2019
9. MDP elects parliamentary candidates in nationwide primaries Archived 2019-11-17 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent, 19 January 2019
10. Future of Maldives ruling coalition thrown into doubt Archived 2019-12-06 at the Wayback Machine Maldives Independent, 20 January 2019
11. MENAFN. "Nasheed-led MDP sweeps Maldivian parliamentary elections. Yameen humbled again". menafn.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
12. "Yellow wave sweeps MDP to historic 65-seat haul". Maldives Independent. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.