The pro-China party achieved an overwhelming victory | Wilnesh News

Preliminary results reported by local media showed that the pro-China ruling party led by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizou won a landslide victory in the election, consolidating its control of power.

The outcome is widely expected to accelerate the Indian Ocean archipelago’s pivot toward China and away from its traditional ally India.

According to Reuters, Muizu’s People’s National Congress won 65 of 93 parliamentary seats in Sunday’s vote. reportciting media forecasts and preliminary results from the Maldivian Electoral Commission.

Formal results are expected to be announced later on Monday.

Local media said support for the main pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party dropped to 12 seats reportA sharp drop from 65 five years ago.

The Democratic Party, which won enough votes in 2019 to gain the country’s first absolute parliamentary majority, has sought to derail efforts to restructure the country’s diplomacy.

China and India are closely watching the results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections as the two Asian economic giants vie for influence over the strategically located islands.

Muizu’s role as president is not affected by Sunday’s vote, but support from his own party may encourage him to push for an end to the country’s traditional electoral system. “India First” policy.

His government had previously Commitment Withdraw all Indian military personnel from the country.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that Beijing was willing to work with the Maldives to “maintain the traditional friendship between the two countries, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership.” Report Excerpted from China’s Global Times.