Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives presidency
Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China candidate, emerged victorious in the Maldives' presidential election held on Saturday, signaling a potential shift in the archipelago's relationship with its long-standing partner, India.
At 45 years old, Muizzu leads a political party that oversaw a significant increase in Chinese loans during its previous tenure in power in the picturesque island nation, renowned for its luxurious beach resorts and popularity among celebrity tourists.
In the run-off contest, Muizzu secured a commanding 54.06% of the vote, prompting the incumbent president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to gracefully concede defeat shortly before midnight.
"Congratulations to President-elect Muizzu," Solih conveyed on social media, formerly Twitter. "I also congratulate the people for demonstrating a peaceful and democratic process."
Muizzu briefly addressed his supporters outside his party's campaign headquarters, urging them to withhold celebrations until Sunday morning when the official campaign restrictions come to an end.
Solih, aged 61, will continue as the caretaker president until his successor is inaugurated on November 17.
This election result marks a setback for Solih's efforts over the past five years to steer the country's diplomatic orientation back towards New Delhi.
Muizzu played a pivotal role in the previous government's development initiatives, some of which were funded with financial support from China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
In a meeting with officials from the Chinese Communist Party last year, Muizzu expressed his party's commitment to strengthening the ties between the Maldives and China, suggesting that their return to power would herald "a new chapter of robust relations between our two countries."
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