The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated that the citizens have shown their support for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the administration. The remark was made by the Chairperson of MDP Fayyaz Ismail after the party won the Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament by-election.
MDP candidate Ibrahim Shaz won the by-election on April 15 by beating the candidate of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Hussain Riza. It is the first time MDP won the Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat, which was held by PPM for 15 years.
On Twitter, MDP Chairperson Fayyaz congratulated Shaz as well as the campaign team for winning the seat, saying that it was a resounding endorsement for President Solih and the administration. He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by PPM and the Maldives National Party (MNP).
MDP candidate Shaz won the by-election won with 49% or 1,346 votes while PPM candidate Riza received 1,226 votes, and MNP candidate Ali Areef received 122 votes. A total of 3,423 individuals were eligible to cast their vote in the by-election held in Guraidhoo, Maafushi, and Gulhi in Kaafu Atoll.
The Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Ibrahim Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. Riza represented the Guraidhoo constituency as a member of PPM for three consecutive terms.