MALE: The Maldives is at a crossroads as the nation embarks on a referendum to elect its next president, determining the direction of their alliance with either China or India, both competing for influence in this tropical haven.
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, aged 61, faces an uphill battle in securing a second term after a tenure that witnessed a rekindling of ties with New Delhi, a long-standing benefactor of the archipelago nation.
The leading contender, Mohamed Muizzu, aged 45, pledges closer ties with Beijing and a reevaluation of relations with India should he emerge victorious in the election.
Muizzu secured 46 percent of the first-round vote earlier this month, maintaining a seven-point lead over Solih. However, the contest remains finely balanced, with only a slim margin of approximately 15,000 votes between the two candidates.
Across the archipelago, known for its opulent beach resorts and frequented by celebrities, people started lining up to cast their votes even before polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. (0300 GMT).
Eager voters formed long queues well ahead of the polling commencement, shared an anonymous election official with AFP.
“The Elections Commission is urging people to cast their votes early.”
By the time the polls close at 5:00 pm, just over 282,000 eligible individuals will have exercised their right to vote. The results are anticipated to be revealed either late Saturday or early Sunday.
Geographically situated in a crucial position within the Indian Ocean, the Maldives plays a pivotal role astride one of the world’s busiest east-west shipping lanes.
Muizzu’s party aligned itself with Beijing during its last tenure, benefiting from substantial financial support from China’s Belt and Road infrastructure program.
His mentor, former president Abdulla Yameen, heavily borrowed from China for various construction projects while sidelining India during his tenure.
Solih, upon his election in 2018, garnered support due to dissatisfaction with Yameen’s increasingly autocratic rule. He accused Yameen of ensnaring the nation in a Chinese debt trap by extensive borrowing for infrastructure.
However, Solih’s restoration of the Maldives’ traditional stance has sparked controversy, with many in the archipelago expressing disapproval of India’s significant political and economic influence.
Should Muizzu secure victory, he has pledged to release his mentor Yameen, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for corruption, from the same prison island where he detained numerous political opponents during his tenure.
