MDP and JP parliamentarian count now level

The count of parliamentarians by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Jumhoory Party (JP) is now level.

The two government coalition partners now have 19 parliamentarians each.

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is the majority party at the parliament. MDP – which used to be the minority party – lost its numbers when six of its parliamentarians resigned to join the new administration.

The less than six months left for the Parliamentary Elections 2019 means no by-elections will be held to fill the vacant seats.

The number of parliamentarians left at the Parliament is 79; 29 PPM parliamentarians, 19 MDP parliamentarians, 19 JP parliamentarians, four Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) parliamentarians, one Adhaalath Party (AP) parliamentarian and seven independent parliamentarians.

A number of parliamentarians from PPM and independent parliamentarians recently defected to JP. And the number of defections is expected to continue – giving rise to the possibility JP may become the minority party.

Despite PPM being the majority party, it is the government coalition which holds the majority with the joint forces of MDP, JP, AP and independent parliamentarians – totaling 46. It is 13 parliamentarians more than the combined forces of PPM and MDA.