Maldivian parliamentary election, 2009

Maldivian Parliamentary Election, 2009

9 May 2009

All 77 seats in the Majlis of the Maldives   First party Second party Third party   Leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla Yameen Party DRP MDP PA Last election 28 seats, 32.3% 18 seats, 31.1% Did not contest Seats won 28 26 7 Seat change 15 7 Popular vote 40,886 51,184 8,283 Percentage 24.60% 30.80% 4.99% Swing 7.69% 0.29% 4.99%

An election to the Majlis of the Maldives was held in the Maldives on May 9, 2009.^[1] The Majlis of the Maldives's term is five years and then must be dissolved as pertained in the current Constitution of the Maldives.^[2] Maldives now uses the first past the post system.

Background

Political parties

Political parties in the Maldives were legalized on June 2, 2005 after a unanimous vote in the Majlis which allowed a multi-party system to contest in presidential and parliamentary elections for the first time in the Maldives after 30 years of autocratic rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.^[3] On October 28, 2008, Mohamed Nasheed, leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) defeated President Gayoom in the first-ever democratic presidential elections.^[4] Following the election, Nasheed and Mohammed Waheed Hassan were respectively sworn in as the President and Vice President of the Maldives on November 11, 2008^[5] in a special session of the Majlis at the Dharubaaruge.^[6][7]

Electoral procedure and constituencies

On February 10, 2009, the Majlis voted 36–0 with one abstention to pass the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill, which Nasheed signed into law later that day. It was the first act he signed as president since being inaugurated into office last November 2008.^[8] In the law, each administrative atoll's population determines how many electoral constituencies will be created. On March 9, 2009, the Elections Commission of the Maldives announced there will be 214,405 eligible voters.

The result in constituency N-02 Thimarafushi Dhaairaa was annulled due to irregularities and reported intimidation by the MDP in one polling region;^[9] the election was repeated there on 11 July 2009.^[10] According to preliminary results, the MDP still won the seat.^[11]

Results

 Summary of the 9 May 2009 Maldivian Assembly election results

Party	Votes	% Votes	Seats	% Seats
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party	40,886	24.62%	28	36.36%
Maldivian Democratic Party	51,184	30.81%	26	33.77%
People's Alliance	8,283	4.99%	7	9.09%
Dhivehi Qaumee Party	5,854	3.52%	2	2.60%
Republican Party	7,001	4.22%	1	1.30%
Adhaalath Party	1,487	0.90%	—	—
Social Liberal Party	674	0.41%	—	—
Gaumee Itthihaad	518	0.31%	—	—
Islamic Democratic Party	214	0.13%	—	—
Maldives National Congress	119	0.07%	—	—
Poverty Alleviating Party (DFP)	50	0.03%	—	—
Independents	49,835	30.00%	13	16.88%
Total	166,105	100.00%	77	100.00%
Source: Electoral Commission of the Maldives

References

1. "Elections Commission: Parliamentary elections will be held on 9 May". Haveeru Daily Online. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
2. "Constitution of the Republic of Maldives" (PDF). Ministry of Legal Reform, Information and Arts. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
3. BBC News (June 2, 2005). "Maldives MPs back democracy move". Retrieved February 11, 2009.
4. "Maldives president loses election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Agence France-Presse. 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
5. "New Maldives president sworn in". BBC News. November 11, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
6. www.miadhu.com.mv, Nasheed sworn in as Maldives new President
7. news.bbc.co.uk, 'Anni' heralds new era in Maldives
8. "The President ratifies the Bill on Parliamentary Constituencies". The President's Office. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
9. http://www.minivannews.com/news_detail.php?id=6875
11. http://www.minivannews.com/news_detail.php?id=6876

External links

• Elections Commission of the Maldives (Dhivehi)