The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has grown to 77,000 members, according to its Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah, as the party prepares for its upcoming national congress.
Speaking at a PNC gathering on Saturday night, the Inguraidhoo MP said the latest membership figure further strengthens the party’s position as the largest political party in the Maldives.
Falah credited President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who also serves as PNC president, for spearheading the party’s expansion through membership drives conducted in Malé and across the atolls.
“Today, this party has 77,000 members, and for that, I congratulate the President of this party, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu,” Falah said.
The figure announced by Falah represents the party’s own latest count and has yet to be reflected in the Elections Commission’s published registry.
The EC’s latest publicly available figures, dated June 30, list the PNC with 67,579 registered members. The commission currently records the MDP at 55,399 members and the Jumhooree Party at 10,401, making PNC the country’s largest registered political party even before the latest recruitment drive is accounted for.
PNC announced in late August that its membership had crossed 70,000 as it intensified recruitment ahead of the party congress scheduled for September 15 to 18. Membership applications are now processed through the Elections Commission’s eFaas-based system before being verified and reflected in the official registry.
The party’s growth has been significant under Muizzu. At the end of 2025, the Elections Commission recorded 74,048 PNC members, although subsequent changes to the registry saw its verified figure stand at 67,579 by the end of June.
Falah rejects talk of revolt among PNC MPs
During Saturday’s gathering, Falah also sought to dismiss claims of growing divisions among ruling party lawmakers.
His remarks followed allegations by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom that a “secret revolt” was developing within Parliament, with some lawmakers dissatisfied with President Muizzu. PNC parliamentarians have publicly rejected those claims in recent days.
Falah said all PNC lawmakers in the 20th People’s Majlis remain firmly behind the President and argued that attempts by political opponents to create divisions within the parliamentary group had failed.
He attributed that unity to the confidence lawmakers continue to place in Muizzu and his administration.
PNC holds a commanding majority in the 20th People’s Majlis, giving the government substantial legislative strength to pursue its policy agenda.
Falah predicts further fall in dollar rate
Falah also addressed the foreign exchange market, predicting that recent amendments to the Foreign Currency Act would help bring down the unofficial dollar rate.
He claimed the rate, which had reached around MVR 23 on the parallel market, had since fallen to MVR 19.80.
“With the Foreign Currency Act, the dollar rate, which stood at 23, has now dropped to MVR 19.80. It won’t be long before the dollar rate falls back to where it was when President Muizzu took office,” Falah said.
His comments refer to the unofficial market rate rather than MMA’s official exchange rate. The official US dollar rate remains within the exchange-rate band maintained by the Maldives Monetary Authority.
Falah concluded his remarks by saying the PNC leadership remains united behind Muizzu as the administration pursues its policies, describing the President as a leader willing to confront major challenges facing the country.
The comments come as political activity within the PNC intensifies ahead of its September 15-18 congress. More than 1,300 members are expected to participate, with a number of senior leadership positions set to be contested.
