Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu has won the presidential election in the Maldives, which is expected to affect the country’s relationship with India. Muizzu, who is leading a party that previously facilitated Chinese loans, secured 54.06 percent of the vote in the run-off contest. Incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih conceded defeat and congratulated Muizzu on his victory. The result will likely disrupt Solih’s efforts to align the Maldives with India. The Maldives’ strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its role as a major shipping route make it a crucial geopolitical hotspot. Muizzu’s mentor, former president Abdulla Yameen, heavily relied on Chinese funding for infrastructure projects and distanced the nation from India. Solih, elected in 2018, aimed to reverse this trend by reducing Chinese influence and improving relations with India. However, Muizzu’s victory suggests a shift back towards China. The outcome raises concerns for India, which is part of the Quad alliance alongside the US, Australia, and Japan, all of which are apprehensive about China’s growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean. Muizzu has promised to release Yameen, who is currently serving a corruption sentence, and urged Solih to transfer him to house arrest using his executive powers. The election saw an 85 percent voter turnout, slightly higher than the previous round. However, there were incidents of electoral violence reported, including one voter breaking open a plastic ballot box. Despite this, the ballots were saved and the count was not disrupted.
Thu. Jan 2nd, 2025
