For the first time in 14 years, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has won the by-election held in Guraidhoo, a constituency that was being represented by late Ibrahim Riza, who was in opposition to MDP.

Member Ibrahim Shaaz, who won the by-election held today, is the first member to represent MDP in the Guraidhoo constituency. 

According to the results of the by-election, Shaaz won 1340 votes, while the closest opponent, Hussain Riza, representing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), had won 1226 votes. Maldives National Party (MNP)'s candidate only won 128 votes.

History of the Guraidhoo Constituency

Ibrahim Riza, representing Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), had won the Guraidhoo constituency seat in the by-election held in 2009 with a difference of over 100 votes. A total of five candidates had participated in the elections that year, out of which three of them were independent candidates. 

Results of the 2009 by-election

1. Ibrahim Riza (DRP) - 723 votes

2. Ali Shaheen Hussain (MDP) - 678 votes

3.  Mohamed Saleem - 331 votes

4. Ali Siraj - 220 votes

5. Maadhih Ismail - 06 votes

The 2009 by-election was the first to be held after the multiparty system was introduced to the Maldives. This was the year that Maldives started following the new constitution, under which Guraidhoo was set as a separate constituency as prior to that even Male' Atoll had just two seats in the People's Majilis. 

DRP's win in the historical by-election of 2009 lasted for the following 14 years, with Late Ibrahim Riza representing PPM and winning the seat three times in a row. 

He had won twice out of the three times under the presidency of MDP, once in the Nasheed regime and once under the Solih regime. 

With the smallest difference won by being in 2009, Riza had won the 2014 and 2019 by-elections with a difference of approximately 200 votes. While he had gotten 1153 votes in the 2014 by-election, the MDP candidate had gotten 808. 

Shaaz had won this year's by-election with a difference of 114 votes. While Shaaz had gotten 1340  votes, the closest opponent had gotten 1226.

Despite the difference being of 114 votes, this is a historical win for MDP as this is the very first time the party has won the seat.