Maldives opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz wins the presidential runoff, local media say
Mohamed Muiz won the Maldives presidential runoff on Saturday, securing more than 53 per cent of the vote, local media reported. The election has turned into a virtual referendum on which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.
Mihaaru News reported that incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had received 46% of the vote and that Muiz had won by more than 18,000 votes.
Official results were expected later Sunday.
It is a surprise win for Muiz, who entered the fray as an underdog and was named only as a fallback candidate closer to the nomination deadline after the Supreme Court prevented his party's leader and former President Abdulla Yameen from contesting because he his serving a prison sentence for money laundering and corruption.
«Today's result is a reflection of the patriotism of our people.
A call on all our neighbours and bilateral partners to fully respect our independence and sovereignty,» said Mohamed Shareef, a top official of Muiz's party. He told The Associated Press that it was also a mandate for Muiz to resurrect the economy and for the release of People's National Congress party leader Abdulla Yameen from prison.
Yameen is serving a prison term for corruption and money laundering, but his supporters say he's been jailed for political reasons.
Neither Muiz nor Solih got more than 50 per cent in the first round of voting earlier in September.
Solih, who was first elected president in 2018, was battling allegations by Muiz that he had allowed India an unchecked presence in the country. Muiz's party, the People's National Congress, is viewed as heavily pro-China.
