Male, April 29 (Representative) China’s ruling Communist Party has expressed satisfaction over the decisive majority secured in parliamentary elections by Maldives’ pro-Beijing President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC). An editorial in the People’s Daily said the victory would have a positive impact on China-Maldives relations. The “election result indicated the Maldives’ greater need for economic development rather than getting entangled in geopolitical conflicts”, it said, in an oblique reference to India. President Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) secured 71 out of 93 seats in the country’s April 21 parliamentary elections. Its coalition partners Maldives National Party (MNP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won one and two seats, respectively, taking the total to more than two-thirds in the People’s Majlis (Parliament). The victory has given President Muizzu the legitimacy he needs to steer the country, since he was voted to power six months ago.
The Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP), which previously held a dominant position in the parliament, suffered a severe defeat, securing only 12 seats. The MDP lost strongholds such as the capital Malé, the southernmost atoll of Addu and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s native island of Hinnavaru. President Muizzu, whose stance has been markedly pro-China, leveraged his “India out” campaign to garner substantial support, in contrast with the pro-India leaning of the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP). Qian Feng, director of the research department at Beijing’s National Strategy Institute, was quoted as saying that Muizzu’s presidency faced considerable pressures and challenges before the election because the opposition party controlled the parliament. He said that “such an overwhelming electoral victory significantly strengthens Muizzu’s presidential mandate”, which is beneficial for the smooth implementation of his current domestic and foreign policies.
According to the People’s Daily editorial, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also congratulated the PNC on its election victory at a media briefing. “China stands ready to work with the Maldives to carry forward traditional friendship, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepen China-Maldives comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and speed up the building of a China-Maldives community with a shared future to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples,” Wang said. Speaking at a ceremony held by the PNC, Muizzu said foreign countries will now understand what the Maldivian people want. “To everyone outside of Maldives. To everyone in the international community. It must be clear now. That we want to decide our own matters by ourselves,” he said, Adhadhu reported.