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Maldivian President Mohamed Muizu on Monday said the results of the general election showed the world that the Maldives wanted “autonomy” to choose its future and did not want “foreign coercion”.

The pro-China leader made the comments during a celebration event held a day after the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) won a “super majority” in Sunday’s People’s Majlis elections.

Muizu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) party won 68 out of 93 seats in Sunday’s election, and its coalition partners the Maldives National Party (MNP) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won one and two seats respectively, the two are more than Third in Parliament.

Muizu, who forced the withdrawal of most of the 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted to the Maldives by India, said, “We are a proud nation that loves sovereignty and independence. Which we have also shown to the international community,” he was quoted as saying by the Sun.mv news portal.

He said that the results of the parliamentary elections are proof that the people of Maldives want to uphold and maintain the Islamic faith and its guiding principles as the main identity to shape the country’s future. The President said that the election result is a message to the rest of the world about the vision and objectives of the Maldivian people.

The parliamentary election results were also to prove that Maldivians “want autonomy to choose their future, without foreign coercion,” President Muizu said without naming any country.

He had earlier accused India of meddling in Maldivian affairs and won the presidential election in September last year with the “India Out” campaign.

“It has also become clear to people with other hidden agendas what the Maldives wants. So, I appeal to them to drop dissent while the elections are over,” the President said. .

Since taking office in November last year, he has visited China and strengthened men’s ties with Beijing, including in the defense sector.

Muizu said that Maldivians are looking forward to a bright future.

Efforts to ensure that the Maldives is moving in the right direction, he said, were upheld with a landslide victory on Sunday, following his victory in the previous presidential election.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is seen as a pro-India leader, won only 15 seats this time.

A parliamentary majority for the PNC would give Muizu the legislative backing to shape the foreign policy of the archetypal state strategically placed in the Indian Ocean, geographically located near India’s southern coast.

In his address, Muizu also invited the political leaders to move forward with the development of the country.

“I want to put aside differences now. The election is over. I very humbly, gladly invite all politicians and all political parties to come forward. This country belongs to all of us. This country belongs to every single citizen. Yes, let’s move on. Hope we all get that happiness,” he was quoted as saying by Adadhu.com.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)