The Chairperson of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Fayyaz Ismail, has said that the party should not be disheartened by the results of Saturday’s local council by-elections because the turnout was low.
The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) secured five out of the six seats in the local council by-elections.
The opposition MDP, with little to no campaigning, also contested for the constituencies but did not win any seat. The remaining designated seat for a female member for Rasmaadhoo Island in Raa Atoll was won by an independent candidate.
Ismail, posting to social media, thanked the party’s candidates.
“There is no reason to be disheartened with the outcome of the election in which a small number of people voted,” the opposition leader said.
Ismail said that efforts to strengthen the party’s administration will prove to be successful in the days ahead.
A total of nine by-elections were scheduled for Saturday. The by-elections for the other three constituencies were not held as no candidates contested. PNC candidates were elected to three seats without a vote as they were uncontested.
A total of 13,112 people were eligible to vote in the by-elections across six constituencies, but only 3,528 cast their votes; a turnout of just 27 percent.
While some polling stations recorded turnouts as low as 15 percent, the turnout in the island constituencies were relatively higher with;
- 61 percent turnout in Kulhuduffushi North
- 74 percent turnout for the Rasmadhoo council seat – female
- 83 percent turnout in Bilehdhoo
This recent election defeat continues MDP’s streak of significant losses in the elections held since their initial defeat in last year’s presidential election. PNC secured a supermajority in this year’s parliamentary elections following their candidate Mohamed Muizzu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
