The Elections Commission (EC) has announced the preliminary results of Sunday's vote for the 20th People's Majlis.
According to the preliminary results, 66 candidates from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) secured seats. Jumhooree Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP) won one seat each while Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won two seats. The three parties are allied with the government.
Most of the 11 independent candidates who have won seats also support the government so the total number of MPs supporting the government is expected to reach 70.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won 12 seats.
The ruling party has also won many populous constituencies. MDP won two seats in Addu while PNC won five seats and an independent candidate who supports the government won one seat.
PNC won all the seats in Kulhudhuffushi and Fuvahmulah. One of the two seats in Thinadhoo was won by PNC and the other by an independent candidate.
This is the biggest victory for a ruling party or the government in a parliamentary election. In 2019, the election was won by the then ruling MDP. The 2014 parliamentary election was won by PNC which controlled the government at the time.
The government's majority in the parliamentary elections is increasing by each term.
