Initial election results put MDP in the lead

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Preliminary election results of the first ever multiparty parliamentary elections held on Saturday put the governing party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), in the lead closely followed by main opposition Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) and the Independents.

At the time the paper went to press, MDP was leading 33 constituencies while DRP was leading in 19 constituencies. DRP affiliated People’s Alliance (PA) was leading in 6 constituencies.

In the 11 constituencies of Male’, the preliminary results indicates that MDP has secured 7 constituencies while DRP has secured 4 constituencies. Mid Henveiru constituency was led by Ali Azim (DRP) with 50.27 percent and in second place is Heena Ahmed Saleem (MDP) with 35.8 percent.

Reeco Moosa Manik is expected to secure Hulhu Henveiru Constituency. As per latest results announced, he is leading by 51.8 percent with 308 votes. Maaz Ahmed Saleem of DRP is in second place with 26.4 percent.

Villi Maafannu constituency is led by Ahmed Nihan of DRP with 35.5 percent. He has received some 465 votes so far. West Maafannu Constituency is led by DRP candidate Abdul Raheem with 44.6 percent. South Galholhu Constituency is led Ahmed Mahlouf (DRP) with 52.03 percent with Dhonbileh Ahmed Haleem of MDP in second place.

Eva Abdulla of MDP is expected to win Galholhu East Constituency. She has so far achieved 50.45 percent (726 votes). South Henveiru Constituency is led by Hamid Abdul Gafoor (MDP) with 300 votes (45.87 Votes). South Maafannu Constituency is led by Ibrahim Rasheed of MDP with 848 votes (45.03 percent).

Vote from 163 out of 395 ballot boxes have been counted, so far. According TVM, preliminary results at approximately 0500 hours puts MDP in the lead with 36.6% of the vote; DRP is in the second place with 30% of the vote, Independent Candidates in the third place with 25% of the vote and Jumhoory Party (JP) in the fourth place with 3.15% of the vote.

Voting in the country’s first ever multiparty parliamentary elections commenced in Male’ at 0900 hours on Saturday. Although voting was scheduled to commence simultaneously across the country, reports indicate that commencement of voting in some parts of the country was delayed due to various reasons.

The historic election, to a large extent, went on calmly and peacefully, although sporadic confrontations and clashes between voter groups led to disruption of law and order. As always, Maldives Police Services was ready on hand to address and solve the issues.

Polling was initially scheduled to be closed on 2000 hours on Saturday but was later extended till 0100 hours on Sunday to accommodate polling stations which had experienced difficulties.

Some 34 ballot boxes were positioned in Male’ aimed at Male’ residents and 70 ballot boxes for the islanders from atolls residing in Male’. Further 14 boxes were positioned in resorts and 2 boxes at industrial sites. A total of 395 ballot boxes were positioned nation wide.

The election was monitored by a commonwealth expert group, election commission officials, representatives of political parties, delegates representing candidates, officials from civil societies and NGOs and officials from Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).

Human Rights Commission of Maldives and Maldives Police Services, separately, urged the public for peaceful and calm voting. The institutions urged the public to fully respect the regulations of the election commission and to accept the results of the elections when announced as the results represented the will of the people.

Over 12,000 officers were employed by Maldives Police Services to ensure smooth and uninterrupted voting. Police media official at press briefing on Friday expressed that police officers would follow instructions from elections commissions and were prepared to deal with any eventuality.

A total of 465 candidates are contested the first ever multiparty parliamentary elections. The new parliament to be formed under the revised constitution ratified on August 2008 comprises of 77 members.

Out of the 465 candidates, who contested the elections, 211 represented political parties while the rest are Independent candidates. 11 out of 13 registered political parties are contested the election. 76 candidates from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 59 from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party(DRP), 21 from the Dhivehi Qaumee Party(DQP), 18 from the People’s Alliance (PA), 17 from the Jumhoory Party(JP), 6 from the National Alliance(NA), 5 from the Islamic Democratic Party(IDP), 4 from the Adhaalath Party(AP), 2 from the Social Liberal Party(SLP), 2 from the Maldivian National Congress(MNC) and 1 from the Poverty Alleviation Party (PAP) contested the elections. Some 215,093 voters were declared as eligible to vote in the historic elections.

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