Pro-Chinese candidate Mohamed Muizzu prevailed in the historic presidential elections in the Maldives. According to the electoral commission, the 45-year-old received 54 percent of the vote in yesterday’s second round of elections. The current head of state, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, immediately admitted his defeat and congratulated his opponent.
APA/AFP/Mohamed Afrah
“Congratulations to President-elect Muizzu,” wrote Solih on the online service Twitter (X) after the electoral commission announced the result. Solih, 61, will continue in the role until his successor takes office, scheduled for November 17th.
Muizzu entered the decisive round of voting as the favorite. The mayor of the capital, Male, won the first round of voting three weeks ago with 46 percent of the vote, but was just 15,000 votes ahead of Solih.
During the election campaign, Solih advocated a traditional alignment of the island state with India. Muizzu, on the other hand, is betting on greater rapprochement with China.
“He won”
Muizzu’s supporters danced in the streets after local television station TVM and news website Dhauru declared him the winner ahead of the official announcement of the election results. “He won, he won,” chanted a crowd outside Muizzu’s party campaign office in the capital, Malé.
Non-governmental organization Transparency Maldives reported violent incidents on election day, without providing further details. Police reported several arrests, including for distributing photos of voting ballots on online networks.
Solih, who previously held no high office, emerged as a surprise winner in the 2018 presidential election. His government is accused of suppressing critical voices and restricting press freedom.