LCE 2021: Count in progress for 17 ballot boxes

Election officials checking a voters list outside a Local Council Elections polling station in Addu City | Photo: The Times of Addu

Malé, Maldives – The President of Elections Council (EC), Ahmed Shareef informs that counting is still ongoing for 17 ballot boxes.

The 17 ballot boxes are from inhabited islands and resorts according to EC.

Major cities have been called thus far in the Local Council Election (LCE) and Women’s Development Committee Elections (WDCE) held yesterday.

While the ruling party Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) won three city mayoral elections, the opposition won the capital city Malé election with Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) winning the mayor’s position by a landslide. This is the first time in history, since the implementation of the democratic reform and multi-party elections, Maldives Democratic Party has lost majority of Malé city council and mayor’s seat.

Meanwhile, MDP has won the mayor’s seat in the southern cities, Fuvahmulah City and Addu City and nothern, Kulhudhuffushi City.

Addu City mayor elect is MDP candidate Ali Nizar with 57% of the vote, while Fuvahmulah City mayor elect is Ismail Rafeeq with 52% and Kulhudhuffushi City mayor is Mohamed Athif with 55% votes.