Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Majlis / People's Majlis |
Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
BACKGROUND |
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
22 March 2014 |
Purpose of elections |
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and its allies - the Jumhooree Party (JP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) - won a total of 53 seats in the enlarged 85-member People's Majlis, up from 78 (see note). The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of former President Mohamed Nasheed took 26 seats. Following the elections, three independent candidates-elect and one MDP member joined the PPM, thereby giving the PPM-led coalition a two-thirds majority (57 seats) in the new legislature.
Mr. Gayoom, who founded the PPM in 2011 after resigning from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), called on voters' support "for the development and progress of the Maldivian nation". President Abdulla Yameen (PPM), a half-brother of Mr. Gayoom, promised to rescue the country's economy so as to develop the health and education sectors. Mr. Nasheed (MDP) who lost to Mr. Yameen in the run-off presidential elections in November 2013, accused the PPM-led government of not doing enough to create jobs.
Note:
The statutory number of members of parliament was increased due to an increase in the size of the population. Article 71 (a) of the Constitution provides for two members for the first 5,000 residents in each administrative division and one additional member per 5,000 residents in excess of the first 5,000. |
Date of previous elections: 9 May 2009
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 27 May 2014
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: March 2019
Number of seats at stake: 85 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 302 (279 men, 23 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 7.6%
Number of parties contesting the election: 6
Number of parties winning seats: 5
Alternation of power: N/A (presidential system)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 28 May 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed (Progressive Party of Maldives, PPM) |
STATISTICS |
Voter turnout |
Round no 1 | 22 March 2014 |
Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes |
240'652 187'547 (77.93%)
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Notes
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Distribution of votes |
Round no 1
|
Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
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% |
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Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) |
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Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) |
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Jumhooree Party (Republican Party, JP) |
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Independents |
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Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) |
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Adhaalath Party (Justice Party, AP) |
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Distribution of seats |
Round no 1
|
Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
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Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) |
33
|
|
|
|
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Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) |
26
|
|
|
|
|
Jumhooree Party (Republican Party, JP) |
15
|
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Independents |
5
|
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|
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Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) |
5
|
|
|
|
|
Adhaalath Party (Justice Party, AP) |
1
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Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men Women Percent of women |
80 5 5.88%
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Distribution of seats according to age |
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Distribution of seats according to profession |
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Comments |
Source: People's Majlis (27.04.2014, 29.04.2014) |