Maldivians went to the polls on Sunday for a pivotal parliamentary election, serving as a crucial evaluation of President Mohamed Muizzu's governance, under close scrutiny from both India and China amidst regional power dynamics.
As per data released by the Elections Commission (EC), 181,406 individuals cast their votes by 4:00 pm local time, yielding a voter turnout of 63.73 percent. This included 88,230 women and 93,176 men out of the 284,000 eligible voters.
A total of 602 ballot boxes were stationed in the Maldives and three other nations for the parliamentary election, with polling stations established in 34 resorts, correctional facilities, and industrial islands. The countries housing the ballot boxes were Thiruvananthapuram in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, as reported by psmnews.mv.
The parliamentary seats, totaling 93 constituencies, are contested by 368 candidates representing six parties, among them Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) and the primary opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), alongside independent candidates.
Muizzu exercised his voting right at Thaajuddin School polling station at 8:40 am, urging all citizens to promptly partake in the electoral process, as per newsportal edition.mv.
"There have been no significant issues or grievances reported during the voting process," stated Hassan Zakariyya, EC member, and spokesperson, as quoted by Adhadhu news portal. He noted minor complaints regarding the handling of ballot papers, primarily related to unfolded ballots.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, currently an esteemed advisor at the MDP, cast his vote in Male, expressing optimism for MDP's success in securing a substantial majority, according to sun.mv news portal.
The election carries weight for Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, particularly in light of recent opposition demands for investigation and impeachment following leaked corruption allegations dating back to 2018, which Muizzu has vehemently denied. Additionally, his cabinet nominations have faced resistance from lawmakers since assuming office.
The political atmosphere intensified with the emergence of leaked intelligence reports implicating Muizzu in corruption, triggering demands from opposition parties for an inquiry. Tensions escalated further with calls for impeachment from various political factions.
Against the backdrop of strained relations between the Maldives and India since Muizzu's ascent to power, marked by anti-India sentiments during the previous presidential election, the election holds implications for regional dynamics. While India has scaled back its military presence, Muizzu's engagements with China, including a recent visit and bilateral agreements, underscore shifting geopolitical alignments.
The Maldives remains a pivotal maritime neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), while China's strategic initiatives, including 'debt trap' diplomacy and the 'String of Pearls' approach, pose challenges and opportunities in the region's geopolitical landscape.
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