‘Yes’ votes on referendum falls short of PNC membership, as ‘no’ votes surpass 146,000

Preliminary results on the referendum held on Saturday on the proposal by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu administration to overhaul the country’s electoral system by synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections shows the votes in favor of the plan are fewer even than the membership of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

The PNC spent millions of Rufiyaa on campaigning for joint elections. However, preliminary results on 578 out of 588 ballot boxes show that the “yes” votes total 67,317, while votes against the government’s proposal total 146,112.

Elections Commission (EC)’s records show the PNC had 74,048 members as of the end of January, making in the largest political party in the country.

However, the “yes” votes in the recent referendum were lower even than the ruling party’s membership mark.

The PNC had become the country’s largest political party in 2024 amid allegations the party misused state resources and created fake forms to boost its membership.

The scandal prompted the EC to digitalize the political party membership process so that people can only apply for membership via eFaas, and not via paper forms.

The PNC administration lost not just the referendum, but also the local council elections which was also held on Saturday.

The mid-term defeat marks a significant loss in popularity, as the public grow increasingly disillusioned amid economic uncertainty and allegations of corruption.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which had grown weaker after suffering back-to-back defeats in the 2023 presidential elections and the 2024 parliamentary elections, managed to defend mayoral seats across all five cities, and secured a majority in councils across the country, cities and islands alike.

MDP had also won a majority in populous islands such as HA. Dhidhdhoo and HA. Hoarafushi, where the administration had launched major infrastructure projects in, ahead of the elections.

Meanwhile, the PNC took majorities in islands such as R. Fainu and N. Narudhoo. The biggest upset the PNC managed to pull off during the recent elections is to win all council seats in AA. Ukulhas – an island that the MDP had reigned supreme over, until now.