Male, 18 May (HS):- Maldives is struggling to repay loans it had taken from China. It has also appealed to China to restructure the loans. Indian Monitory Fund (IMF) also warned of the risk of extending loans to Maldives. It is also said that after Shri Lanka China held Maldives under its tentacles of loans.

China said a discussion with Maldives about restructuring loan repayment is in progress. Chinese Ambassador in Maldives Wang Lixin said restructuring is not a solution and will pose problems in Maldives seeking loans again from China. The technical teams of China and Maldives are handling the issue carefully and responsibly.

Wang said China respected Maldives and different projects are being run by China not for earning profits.

Male, 22 April  - In a resounding victory, the People's National Congress (PNC) led by Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu has secured a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, winning more than 60 seats, according to media reports. The elections, held to elect MPs for 93 constituencies, are of significant importance for President Muizzu, whose policies are under scrutiny as India and China vie for influence in the Maldives.

According to the Election Commission (EC), as of 5:00 pm local time, 207,693 people cast their votes, representing a voter turnout of 72.96 percent. Among the voters, 104,826 were men and 102,867 were women. A total of 284,663 people were eligible to vote. Ballot boxes were reportedly placed for voting outside the Maldives in locations such as Thiruvananthapuram in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

The parliamentary elections featured 368 candidates from six parties. These parties included Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC), the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and 130 independent candidates.

Preliminary results indicate that the PNC, under Muizzu's leadership, has secured more than 60 seats in the 93-member People's Majlis, almost a two-thirds majority. The trends show the PNC winning 67 seats, followed by the MDP with 12 seats, while independent candidates have won 10 seats. The remaining seats have been distributed among other parties.

Maldives is set to hold parliamentary elections, with President Mohammed Moizzu's anti-India policy under scrutiny. The elections, taking place across 93 constituencies, will be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.

Over 2,84,663 voters are expected to cast their votes at 602 polling stations, with 368 candidates vying for seats in the legislature. The political landscape in Maldives has seen significant changes since last year's presidential elections, with fragmentation and differences emerging among key political figures.

Moizzu's decision to expel Indian military personnel has sparked criticism within the country. This has led to speculation that the main opposition and pro-India party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), may secure a majority in the parliamentary elections.

MDP leader and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid expressed optimism about his party's chances, citing failures in Moizzu's administration's domestic and foreign policies. Shahid accused Moizzu of coming to power through deceit and halting development projects.

Moizzu, who supports China and has been vocal against India, defeated Ibrahim Solih in last year's presidential elections. The outcome of the parliamentary elections will be crucial in determining the future direction of Maldives' foreign policy and its relations with India and China.