Council Elections 2021: MDP win 400 races, but lose super-majority to PPM's 325 seats
Candidates were elected for 975 seats in local councils, along with an additional 905 positions across Women's Development Committees
President of the Elections Commission Ahmed Shareef at an earlier press conference
Permanent results for the Local Council elections held across the Maldives on 10 April 2021, have shown main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MPD) in the lead with a majority of 400 seats secured in the election.
Main-opposition party Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) were able to win 325 seats in the elections, which is 34.9 percent of all seats, while MDP's 400 seats represent 43 percent of seats won in the elections.
The elections held earlier in April were the first time two elections were conducted simultaneously across the Maldives, with 3,814 candidates who contested for seats across 220 constituencies and 181 women's development committees across the Maldives. A total of 982 persons were elected for council seats, with a further 930 people elected for Women's Development Committees, which equals to 1,912 candidates elected with the result of April's vote.
EC President Ahmed Shareef confirmed at a press conference held on Saturday that MDP had been able to secure 400 seats from the election with 804 candidates contesting. PPM had secured 325 seats with 646 candidates running in the polls.
The Elections Commission has only revealed the results of the Local Council Elections, with permanent results of the Women's Development Committee Elections still pending.
3 Mayoral seats
18 City Council seats
11 Atoll Council seats
71 Island Council seats
155 Council Member seats
142 Women Representatives seats
Total number of seats won in the elections: 400
Percentage of votes received: 43.4%
Mayoral seat for Male' City
16 City Council seats
7 Atoll Council seats
51 Island Council seats
121 Council Member seats
129 Women Representatives seats
Total number of seats won in the elections: 325
Percentage of votes received: 38.2%
Jumhooree Party (JP)
115 candidates
23 seats won
Percentage of votes received: 2.8%
Adhaalath Party (AP)
28 candidates
11 seats won
Percentage of votes received: 0.7%
Maldives Development Alliance (MDA)
20 candidates
16 seats won
Percentage of votes received: 1.1%
Independent candidates
3 City Council seats
37 Island Council seats
71 Council Member seats
62 Women Representatives seats
Percentage of votes received: 13.5%
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP): 43.4%
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM): 38.2%
Jumhooree Party (JP): 2.8%
Adhaalath Party (AP): 0.7%
Maldives Development Alliance (MDA): 1.1%
Maldives Reform Movement (MRM): 0.2%
282,073 eligible voters
186,253 votes cast
94,306 men voters
92,217 women voters
Voter turnout for the elections exceeded expectations amid the global Covid-19 pandemic at 68 percent of all eligible voters.
68% of eligible voters cast ballots outside the capital
39.19% of eligible voters cast ballots in Male' City
47.08% of eligible voters cast ballots in Addu City
56.44% of eligible voters cast ballots in Kulhudhuffushi City
75.41% of eligible voters cast ballots in Fuvahmulah City
82% of eligible voters cast ballots from Faafu Atoll
81% of eligible voters cast ballots from Dhaalu Atoll
80% of eligible voters cast ballots from Vaavu Atoll
Elections Commission President Ahmed Shareef concluded the press conference by stating that the elections had been seen through without major challenges. However, EC President Shareef noted that the number of invalid votes cast in this year's elections were comparatively higher than before between 10 and 12 percent. Shareef stated that this might be due to a lack of voter awareness, as two elections were hosted simultaneously under time constraints and difficult conditions.
