ISTANBUL

Maldives' ruling party has conceded a huge blow as it lost a key constitutional referendum and mayoral race in an election viewed as a test for President Mohamed Muizzu, media reports said Sunday.

Preliminary results showed that a whopping 70% of the votes that have been counted have opposed the referendum that is considered significant for the country’s political framework, The Edition newspaper reported.

In the mayoral race, as per preliminary results, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has secured mayoral seats in all five cities.

The ruling People's National Congress (PNC), meanwhile, has won 220 of the 498 council seats, whereas the MDP has won 207.

The Maldives held local council elections, Women’s Development Committee (WDC) polls and a nationwide referendum simultaneously Saturday, including a vote on whether to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

The island nation’s election authority is likely to announce official results later in the day.

MDP supporters gathered at Artificial Beach in the capital, Male', to celebrate their win in the elections.

Candidates who won Male' City Council seats and incumbent Male' Mayor Adam Azim, who was elected for a second term, also joined the celebrations.

There were 294,876 eligible voters in the election.

The referendum is tied to a proposed constitutional amendment passed by parliament on Feb. 10. The changes would allow presidential and parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously and establish a fixed start date for parliamentary terms.