Maldives voters have delivered a resounding victory to President Mohamed Muizzu’s party in parliamentary elections, according to media reports on Monday.
The outcome is expected to move the Indian Ocean archipelago towards closer ties with China, shifting away from its traditional partner, India.
Preliminary results from the Maldives Elections Commission and media projections indicate that Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) secured 65 out of the 93 seats up for grabs in Sunday’s elections.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) saw a significant decline, securing only 12 seats compared to its previous tally of 65.
Both Beijing and New Delhi have courted the Maldives as they compete for influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since taking office last year, Muizzu has vowed to depart from the country’s “India First” policy, leading to strained relations with New Delhi.
His administration has requested the departure of numerous Indian military personnel from the Maldives, a move that some critics argue could accelerate the nation’s pivot towards China.
Muizzu’s position as president remains unaffected by Sunday’s vote, which saw 368 candidates competing for five-year terms.
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