All Former Ministers of MDP Government Lost Their Parliament Races

All the former ministers of the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) government who contested the parliamentary elections have faced defeat on Sunday.

The five former ministers from the last MDP government who ran for parliament were; Former Transport Minister and Jumhooree Party Deputy Leader Aishath Nahula who contested the Hulhumale South Constituency, Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer who contested the Thulusdhoo constituency, Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed who contested the Kulhudhuffushi South constituency, Former Health Minister Abdullah Ameen who contested the Ungoofaru constituency, and Former Home Minister Imran Abdullah contested the Makunudhoo constituency on the Adhaalath Party ticket.

The ruling party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), won all the aforementioned seats except the Hulhumale South constituency. MDP’s candidate Ahmed Shamheed won the Hulhumale South seat.

PNC candidate Adam Shafeeg won the Makunudhoo constituency seat defeating the former Home Minister. PNC candidate Faruhath Mohamed won the Kulhudhuffushi South seat against Ali Waheed, who has been accused of sexual assault by numerous former employees while he was the Tourism Minister.

The PNC candidate Ibrahim Naseem won the Thulusdhoo constituency against former Finance Minister Ameer. Finally, PNC's Ibrahim Shifaz won the Ungoofaru constituency, defeating former Minister Ameen, who was involved in the ventilator scandal at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced him to relinquish his position as Health Minister.

More than 300 candidates contested the elections for the 93 constituencies of the 20th Parliament yesterday. Despite the large number of candidates contesting the election, the PNC achieved the supermajority that President Dr. Muizzu has been searching for, which he has said will allow him to achieve his vision for development.

According to latest results, the main opposition, MDP, has won 12 seats. Former President Nasheed's party, the Democrats, did not win any seats in parliament, with MP Eva Abdullah also losing her seat after 15 years.