2009 Maldivian parliamentary election

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

2009 Maldivian parliamentary election

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All 77 seats in the People's Majlis 39 seats needed for a majority

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

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 Mohamed 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	+8
	Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party	40,339	24.37	28	+8
	People's Alliance	8,283	5.00	7	New
	Jumhooree Party	6,882	4.16	1	New
	Dhivehi Qaumee Party	5,795	3.50	2	New
	Adhaalath Party	1,487	0.90	0	New
	Social Liberal Party	674	0.41	0	New
	Gaumee Itthihaad	518	0.31	0	New
	Islamic Democratic Party	214	0.13	0	New
	Maldives National Congress	119	0.07	0	New
	Maldivian Labour Party	50	0.03	0	New
	Independents	49,954	30.18	13	+9
Total		165,499	100.00	77	0
Valid votes		165,499	98.92
Invalid/blank votes		1,806	1.08
Total votes		167,305	100.00
Source: Election Passport