Maldives presidential election heading for 2nd round after no clear winner emerges

Maldives presidential election headed for second round b/w top two candidates after none secured 50% of votes. Incumbent Solih pro-India, main rival Muiz pro-China. Muiz promises to remove Indian troops, balance trade relations. Solih credited with stability, adeptly handling COVID. Possibility of more socially conservative nation.

The Maldives Presidential election Saturday was headed toward a second round between the top two candidates after none of the eight contestants secured more than 50 per cent of the vote for an outright win, local media reported.

Main opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz secured a surprise lead with more than 46% of votes, while the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39% in an election that turned into a virtual referendum over which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago state.

The elections commission was scheduled to announce its official results Sunday morning. A second round, if confirmed, will take place later this month.

Saturday's vote was to choose the country's fifth freely elected President since Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008. Eight candidates are vying for the post with Mr. Solih, perceived as pro-India, facing off against his main rival Mr. Muiz, who is seen as pro-China.

Mr. Solih is seeking a second term and is battling allegations by Mr. Muiz that he had allowed India an unchecked presence in the country.

Mr. Muiz promised that if he wins the presidency, he will remove Indian troops stationed in the Maldives and balance the country's trade relations, which he said is heavily in India's favor.

The People's National Congress, Mr. Muiz's party, is viewed as heavily pro-China. Its leader, Abdullah Yameen, was president from 2013-2018, during which he made the Maldives a part of China's Belt and Road initiative. The initiative envisages building ports, railways and roads to expand trade — and China's influence — across Asia, Africa and Europe.