2005 Maldivian parliamentary election

2005 Maldivian parliamentary election

22 January 2005

42 of the 50 seats in the People's Majlis

Party Vote % Seats Pro-government 32.29 20 MDP-endorsed 31.10 10 Independents 36.61 4 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 22 January 2005. At the time of the elections political parties were banned, so all candidates ran as independents. Supporters of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom emerged as the largest group in the People's Majlis.

Background

The elections were originally planned for 31 December 2004, but were postponed following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on 25 December which severely affected the islands.

Campaign

Whilst all 149 candidates ran as independents, their political affiliation were well known.

Conduct

Twenty opposition supporters were arrested on election day after recording election officials attempting to close a polling station whilst there were still voters waiting to cast their vote.

Results

Supporters of the Government emerged as the largest group in the People's Majlis, although the exact numbers were unclear; the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party claimed government supporters had won only 22 seats to their 18, whilst the government claimed to have 30 MPs and the MDP only eight.

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Minivan Daily reported that pro-Government candidates won 20 seats.

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Supporters of the Government	71,558	32.29	20
	Endorsed by the Maldivian Democratic Party	68,931	31.10	18
	Independents	81,125	36.61	4
Presidential appointees				8
Total		221,614	100.00	50
Registered voters/turnout		156,267	–
Source: IFES

Aftermath

Following the elections, political parties were legalised on 2 July 2005.