Maldives presidential runoff is set for September 30 with pro-China opposition in a surprise lead

Maldivians head to polls September 30 for runoff election between top two candidates; neither secured more than 50% in first round. Main opposition candidate Muiz had surprise lead with 46% of votes, incumbent Solih got 39%. Election seen as virtual referendum between India and China for influence in Indian Ocean archipelago state.

Maldivians will return to the polls on Sept. 30 to vote in a runoff election between the top two candidates in the country's presidential race after neither secured more than 50% in the first round, the elections commission said Sunday.

Main opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz managed a surprise lead with more than 46% of votes, while the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was seen as the favorite, got only 39%.

The election on Saturday has shaped up as a virtual referendum over which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago state. Solih is perceived as pro-India while Muiz is seen as pro-China.

The result is seen a remarkable achievement for Muiz, who was a late selection as a candidate by his party after its leader, former President Abdullah Yameen, was blocked from running by the Supreme Court. He is serving a prison term for corruption and money laundering.

“People did not see this government to be working for them, you have a government that was talking about ‘India first,’" said Mohamed Shareef, a top official from Muiz’s party.

Azim Zahir, a political science and international relations lecturer at the University of Western Australia, said the first-round election outcome was “a major blow” to Solih and "one could read it even as a rejection of his government,”