Mohamed Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party was heading for a two-thirds majority in the 87-member assembly AHMED SHURAU/GETTY IMAGES

The former president of the Maldives has led his party to a landslide victory in parliamentary elections five months after returning from exile.

Mohamed Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party was heading for a two-thirds majority in the 87-member assembly, results showed yesterday. Turnout was about 80 per cent.

Mr Nasheed, 51, promised stability after a year of turmoil. He declared the era of “Rolex watches and Koh-i-noor are over”, referring to scandals in which MPs were allegedly bribed with jewellery. More than 200,000 Maldivians voted on Saturday, including in Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia.

At presidential elections in September Mr Nasheed’s former deputy, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 54, beat President Yameen, whose regime was accused of corruption and repression. Mr Yameen, 59, did not contest the parliamentary… </s> Male: The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Sunday celebrated a historic victory as preliminary results showed its candidates securing a landslide victory in the parliamentary polls deemed crucial for the island nation.

According to the preliminary results from the Election Commission late Saturday, the MDP won 62 out of the 87 seats in the People`s Majlis, reports Efe news.

The party secured seats from all three major cities and populous islands. It also took major seats that previously belonged to the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives.

In the previous parliamentary elections held in 2009 and 2014, the MDP was unable to secure more than 26 seats.

This is the first time in the island nation`s history that a single party has secured such a majority in parliament since the advent of multi-party democracy following the new constitution of 2008.

Saturday`s voting was held without any major complaints and the voter-turnout was at around 78 per cent. Some 264,689 people were eligible to vote.

MDP supporters staged a victory rally in the capital Male late Saturday night where President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former leader Mohamed Nasheed addressed a jubilant crowd.

Nasheed, who also won a seat, promised to deliver on his promises.

"Our biggest job is to ensure that the government of our president continues smoothly and peacefully," he told hundreds of people.

Solih, who became President in September as the candidate of a four-party coalition, reiterated his commitment to the coalition.

"Today`s decision by the people is proof that you still stand with the decision made on September 23rd. You have decided never to go back to corruption," he said.

The newly-elected parliament will give legal authority to the presidential commissions formed to investigate corruption, abductions and murders, he said.

"Anyone with the intention to steal the people`s money cannot be a part of this government," he said, stressing the role of journalists in blowing the whistle over wrongdoings.

Vice President Faisal Naseem and Tourism Minister Ali Waheed from the coalition partner the Jumhooree Party (JP) also attended Saturday night`s celebration rally.

But JP leader Gasim Ibrahim earlier formed an alliance with the opposition for the parliamentary election and hinted at leaving the coalition government if the MDP won a majority.

Gasim has accused the MDP of reneging on a coalition agreement for the four parties to jointly contest the parliamentary polls and accused Nasheed of trying to become the prime minister.

The disagreement within the coalition resulted in the JP forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives and the People`s National Congress. </s> The ruling party in the Maldives was celebrating Sunday a historic victory as preliminary results showed its candidates securing a landslide win in the parliamentary election.

According to the preliminary results from the Elections Commission late Saturday, the Maldivian Democratic Party won 62 out of the 87 seats in the People’s Majlis. </s> (UPDATED) 'Our foremost duty is to bring peace to the government,' says former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed

MALE, Maldives (UPDATED) – The former Maldives president on Sunday, April 7 vowed sweeping reforms and an end to government corruption after leading his party to a landslide victory just five months since returning from exile.

Mohamed Nasheed, 51, made a dramatic return to the top of the national parliament, with his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed for a two-thirds majority in the 87-member assembly.

Nasheed promised to use his party's mandate to usher in a new era of stability and democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago as it emerges from years of strongman rule, political crises and corruption scandals miring the government and judiciary.

"Our foremost duty is to bring peace to the government,” Nasheed told supporters in the capital Male on Sunday.

The comprehensive victory was another rebuke for Nasheed's archrival and autocratic former president Abdulla Yameen, who was dumped in a shock election defeat in September under a cloud of corruption and embezzlement allegations.

Yameen did not run, but his party, the Progressive Party of Maldives, ended with a poor showing and is projected to only secure 4 seats in the People's Majlis, or parliament.

Nasheed was barred from running in the election but his former deputy, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, emerged triumphant over Yameen.

The former leader declared the days of "Rolex watches and Kohinoor are over,” referring to high-profile scandals in the Maldives where MPs have allegedly been bought with luxury gifts.

"The parliament you have elected today possesses integrity," said Nasheed, who won a seat in the People's Majlis, or parliament.

"You desired to reform the general well being of the nation... Hopefully we will succeed in fulfilling your wishes."

Nasheed also vowed to transform the Maldives, a popular honeymoon destination home to 340,000 Sunni Muslims, into a parliamentary democracy.

An executive presidential system was adopted under political reforms in 2008, when the dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stood down after 30 years in power.

Preliminary results from Saturday's election showed the MDP winning nearly 60 out of the 87 seats. Some local media projected Nasheed's party was on track to win up to 68 seats.

Another anti-Yameen party that won seven seats, and several independent candidates, are also expected to throw their support behind the MDP government, political sources said.

As the results trickled in Saturday, and Nasheed's victory was clearly within grasp, the dogged political veteran declared the Maldives was heading for "a golden yellow dawn.” Yellow is the color of his party.

Election officials estimated the final turnout to be just under 80%, down from 89% recorded at the September presidential election. The official results could take days.

President Solih, who has promised to investigate corruption allegations against Yameen, thanked voters for delivering "a huge majority" for the MDP.

"While we celebrate, we must also not forget the immense challenges that lie ahead of us," he said in a statement.

Election commissioner Ahmed Shareef told reporters there had been no complaints of irregularities in the run up to the vote, during balloting or at the count.

The thumping MDP victory caps a remarkable comeback for Nasheed, who until November was a fugitive in exile.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years prison in 2015 but left the Maldives a year later, after being granted prison leave for medical treatment in the UK.

The charges were dropped by the Supreme Court after Solih toppled Yameen, with judges saying there was no basis for the charges.

International rights groups had decried the terrorism conviction, imposed while Yameen was in power, as politically motivated and unjustified.

The Maldives was on the verge of being slapped with Western-led sanctions before Solih won the presidential election on a pledge to end corruption in the country, best known for its luxury tourism.

Nasheed has also opposed heavy borrowing from China under Yameen's administration, accusing the former strongman of mortgaging the island paradise to Beijing for infrastructure projects. – Rappler.com </s> The exiled former leader of the Maldives has led his party to a landslide victory only five months after returning to the country, preliminary results showed Sunday.

Ex-president Mohamed Nasheed, 51, was set for a dramatic return to the top of the national parliament, with his Maldivian Democratic Party headed for a two-thirds majority in the 87-member assembly.

Saturday’s poll was the first test of public opinion since autocratic former president and Nasheed’s arch-rival Abdulla Yameen was forced to stand down after his five-year term, facing charges of money laundering and embezzlement.

Nasheed returned to the country after his former deputy President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won an unexpected victory in September presidential elections for the MDP. Yameen had barred Nasheed from contesting.

Preliminary results from Saturday’s election showed the MDP winning 50 out of the 87 seats, while private media reports projected the party eventually getting up to 68 seats.

“The Maldives is about to welcome a new dawn, a golden yellow dawn,” Nasheed told his supporters in Male on Saturday. Yellow is the colour of his party.

Election officials estimated the final turnout to be between 70 and 80 percent, down from the 89 percent recorded at the September presidential election which unexpectedly toppled Yameen.

Nasheed, now set to take over the leadership of the legislature, has promised to turn the country into a parliamentary democracy by scrapping the executive presidential system adopted under political reforms in 2008.

President Solih said in a statement that the MDP had “secured a huge majority in Majlis (parliament)”.

“While we celebrate, we must also not forget the immense challenges that lie ahead of us,” he said.

Solih campaigned for the MDP asking voters to return a parliament that could work with him to deliver on his election promises in September to investigate corruption under Yameen.

While Yameen was not a candidate, his Progressive Party of Maldives was seen as the main challenger to the MDP — but ended up with a poor showing, and is projected to get only four seats.

Nasheed was jailed for 13 years on a controversial terrorism charge when Yameen was in power. However, the conviction was overturned last year after the presidency changed.

Election commissioner Ahmed Shareef told reporters there had been no complaints of irregularities in the runup to the vote, during balloting or at the count.

The Maldives was on the verge of being slapped with Western-led sanctions before Solih won the presidential election on a pledge to end corruption in the country best known for its luxury tourism. </s> Preliminary results give the MDP a two-thirds majority in the 87-member assembly. Election officials estimated the final turnout to be between 70 and 80 percent.

The party of the former leader of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed is heading for a landslide victory in this weekend's elections, just five months since his return from exile.

The autocratic former president Abdulla Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives may only win four seats.

Election commissioner Ahmed Shareef told reporters there had been no complaints of irregularities in the runup to the vote, during balloting or at the count.

Maldivians residing in nearby India and in Sri Lanka, as well as in the UK were eligible to vote.

Nasheed had received asylum in the UK after being sentenced to 13 years in jail in 2015 on charges of terrorism which Nasheed's supporters said were trumped up.

The conviction was overturned after Maldivians voted in Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nasheed's former deputy, and voted out Yameen

He'd grabbed the attention of the world however in 2009 as the spokesman for the small-island countries at the COP 15 in Copenhagen, when he was head of state.

His feisty attitude forced all the bigger players to give greater importance to these particularly vulnerable countries during their negotiations.

Now Nasheed looks set to take over the leadership of the legislature. He has already promised to turn the country into a parliamentary democracy.

Nasheed's former deputy President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the September presidential elections for the MDP. He stood in for Nasheed whom Yameen had barred from contesting.

The Maldives had been under threat of Western-led sanctions before Solih won the presidential election with a promise to stamp out corruption. </s> The former Maldives president on Sunday vowed sweeping reforms and an end to government corruption after leading his party to a record landslide victory just five months since returning from exile.

Mohamed Nasheed, 51, made a dramatic return to the top of the national parliament, with his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) securing more than two-thirds in the 87-member assembly.

Nasheed promised to use his party's mandate to usher in a new era of stability and democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago as it emerges from years of strongman rule, political crises and corruption scandals miring the government and judiciary.

"Our foremost duty is to bring peace to the government", Nasheed told supporters in the capital Male on Sunday.

Provisional results from the Elections Commission showed Nasheed's party won 68 seats with the Jamhooree Party a distant second, securing just seven.

The party of former strongman president Abudulla Yameen trailed with only four.

Nasheed's comprehensive victory was another rebuke for his arch-rival Yameen, who was dumped in a shock election defeat in September under a cloud of corruption and embezzlement allegations.

Yameen did not run, but his party -- the Progressive Party of Maldives -- finished in third. The remaining seats were collected by minor parties and independents.

Nasheed was barred from running in the presidential election but his former deputy, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, emerged triumphant over Yameen.

The former leader declared the days of "Rolex watches and Kohinoor are over", referring to high-profile scandals in the Maldives where MPs have allegedly been bought with luxury gifts, including gems.

"The parliament you have elected today possesses integrity," said Nasheed, who won a seat in the People's Majlis, or parliament representing a constituency in the capital Male.

"You desired to reform the general well-being of the nation... Hopefully we will succeed in fulfilling your wishes."

Nasheed also vowed to transform the Maldives, a popular honeymoon destination home to 340,000 Sunni Muslims, into a parliamentary democracy.

An executive presidential system was adopted under political reforms in 2008, when dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stood down after 30 years in power.

Two of Gayoom's children contested this poll, but only one was successful in winning a seat.

As the results trickled in Saturday, and Nasheed's victory was clearly within grasp, the dogged political veteran declared the Maldives was heading for "a golden yellow dawn". Yellow is the colour of his party.

Election officials estimated the final turnout to be 80 percent, less than the September presidential election but a record for a parliamentary poll. The official final results are expected later.

President Solih, who has promised to investigate corruption allegations against Yameen, thanked voters for delivering "a huge majority" for the MDP.

"While we celebrate, we must also not forget the immense challenges that lie ahead of us," he said in a statement.

Election commissioner Ahmed Shareef told reporters there had been no complaints of irregularities in the run up to the vote, during balloting or at the count.

The thumping MDP victory caps a remarkable comeback for Nasheed, who until November was a fugitive in exile.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years prison in 2015 but left the Maldives a year later, after being granted prison leave for medical treatment in Britain.

The charges were dropped by the Supreme Court after Solih toppled Yameen, with judges saying there was no basis for the charges.

International rights groups had decried the terrorism conviction, imposed while Yameen was in power, as politically motivated and unjustified.

The Maldives was on the verge of being slapped with Western-led sanctions before Solih won the presidential election on a pledge to end corruption in the country, best known for its luxury tourism.

Nasheed has also opposed heavy borrowing from China under Yameen's administration, accusing the former strongman of mortgaging the island paradise to Beijing for infrastructure projects. </s> New Delhi: With flags raised high and dancing on the streets, Maldives cheers for its new President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who defeated Abdulla Yameen in the 2018 presidential election to claim the title. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the elections with 134,616 votes. He registered the victory with the backing of a united opposition trying to oust Abdulla Yameen. His party struggled for visibility with the electorate and the media, but the outcome turned out to be favourable. Abdulla Yameen on Monday conceded defeat in elections, easing fears of a fresh political crisis in Maldives. The Indian External Affairs Ministry called for deepening country's partnership and ties with Maldives with a change in the leadership. "This election marks not only the triumph of democratic forces in the Maldives, but also reflects the firm commitment to the values of democracy and the rule of law," the statement said. </s> Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s candidate, was on Monday declared the winner of the country’s presidential election held on Sunday amid political turmoil in the island nation, with incumbent President Abdulla Yameen conceding defeat.

The Election Commission earlier in the day declared Solih the winner with 134,616 or 58.3 per cent of the votes, compared to 96,132 votes or 41.5 per cent secured by Yameen, backed by the Progressive Party of Maldives, reports Efe news.

Solih will be sworn in on November 17 and his term is expected to continue until 2023.

“I know that I have to step down now,” Yameen, who has been accused of crushing dissent in the archipelago, said in a short speech from the presidential office.

Yameen, whose rule was marred by accusations of despotism, said he accepted the decision made by the people, and urged them “to remain calm and ensure the smooth transition of power”.

In his victory speech, Solih said: “The message is loud and clear. The people of Maldives want change, peace and justice.”

India, which is concerned with the political instability in the Maldives, also welcomed the result.

“We welcome the successful completion of the third presidential election process in the Maldives which, according to preliminary information, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The island country, home to around 22,000 Indians, is of strategic importance to New Delhi also due to its growing proximity with China.

Exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed said on Twitter that Solih had done “an extremely good service” to the people of Maldives.

These were the third democratic elections in the country, after the adoption of the Constitution in 2008, which paved the road for the establishment of a multi-party democracy in the archipelago.

Sunday’s elections saw a high turnout of 89.22 per cent of the 263,000 eligible voters, the Commission said.

The European Union and US had earlier voiced concerns about the election, with both threatening to impose targeted sanctions if the democratic situation did not improve.

The upheaval in the archipelago worsened after the Supreme Court in February quashed the convictions of nine opposition figures, among them Nasheed, who was ousted from office in 2012.

But after Yameen declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest of two judges, the court reversed its decision.
Voters are called to the polls to elect the new members of the People's Majlis. Preliminary results give the victory to Maldivian Democratic Party, led by former President Mohamed Nasheed.