2009 Maldivian parliamentary election

2009 Maldivian parliamentary election

9 May 2009 (2009-05-09)

All 77 seats in the People's Majlis

Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– MDP Mohamed Nasheed 30.93 26 +8 DRP Maumoon Abdul Gayoom 24.37 28 0 PA Abdulla Yameen 5.00 7 New JP Qasim Ibrahim 4.16 1 New DQM Hassan Saeed 3.50 2 New Independents – 30.18 13 +9 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 9 May 2009.^[1]

Background

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

Electoral system

On 10 February 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 after being inaugurated in November 2008.^[7] In the law, each administrative atoll's population determines how many electoral constituencies will be created. On 9 March 2009, the Elections Commission of the Maldives announced there were 214,405 eligible voters.

Results

The result in constituency N-02 Thimarafushi Dhaairaa was annulled due to irregularities and reported intimidation by the MDP at one polling region;^[8] polling was repeated on 11 July 2009.^[9] According to preliminary results, the MDP still won the seat.^[10]

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Maldivian Democratic Party	51,184	30.93	26
	Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party	40,339	24.37	28
	People's Alliance	8,283	5.00	7
	Jumhooree Party	6,882	4.16	1
	Dhivehi Qaumee Party	5,795	3.50	2
	Adhaalath Party	1,487	0.90	0
	Social Liberal Party	674	0.41	0
	Gaumee Itthihaad	518	0.31	0
	Islamic Democratic Party	214	0.13	0
	Maldives National Congress	119	0.07	0
	Poverty Alleviating Party	50	0.03	0
	Independents	49,954	30.18	13
Total		165,499	100.00	77
Valid votes		165,499	98.92
Invalid/blank votes		1,806	1.08
Total votes		167,305	100.00
Source: Election Passport

References

1. "Elections Commission: Parliamentary elections will be held on 9 May". Haveeru Daily. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
2. "Maldives MPs back democracy move". BBC News. 2 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
3. "Maldives president loses election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Agence France-Presse. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
4. "New Maldives president sworn in". BBC News. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
5. "www.miadhu.com.mv, Nasheed sworn in as Maldives new President".^{[permanent dead link‍]}
6. Lang, Olivia (29 October 2008). "'Anni' heralds new era in Maldives". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
7. "The President ratifies the Bill on Parliamentary Constituencies". The President's Office. Retrieved February 12, 2009. ^{[dead link‍]}
8. [1]^{[permanent dead link‍]}
9. "Elections Commission to appeal Thimarafushi case in Supreme Court". Haveeru Daily. 24 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011.
10. [2]^{[permanent dead link‍]}