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Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu won Saturday’s presidential election in the Maldives, a result set to once again upend the archipelago’s relationship with traditional benefactor India.
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Muizzu, 45, helms a party that presided over an influx of Chinese loans when it last held power in the atoll nation, better known for its luxury beach resorts and celebrity tourists.
He won 54.06 percent of the vote in the run-off contest, prompting incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to concede defeat shortly before midnight.
“Congratulations to president-elect Muizzu,” Solih wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I also congratulate the people who have shown a peaceful and democratic process.”
ރިޔާސީއިންތިޚާބު ކާމިޔާބުކުރެއްވި @MMuizzu އަށް މަރްޙަބާ ދަންނަވަން. އިންތިޚާބުގަ ރައްޔިތުން ދެއްކެވި ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް ރީތި ނަމޫނާއަށްޓަކާ ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން. އެކުގަ މަސައްކަތްކުރި އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ އާއި އޭ.ޕީ ގެ މެމްބަރުން އަދި އަޅުގަޑަށް ވޯޓުދެއްވި ހުރިހާރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) September 30, 2023
Muizzu made a brief appearance outside his party’s campaign headquarters to urge supporters not to celebrate until Sunday morning, when campaign restrictions officially come to an end.
Solih, 61, will serve as caretaker president until his successor is inaugurated on November 17.
The result upends Solih’s efforts to revert the country’s diplomatic posture back towards New Delhi since taking office…
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