00:00 In a significant turn of events, Mohamed Mouizou emerged victorious in the Maldives presidential
00:06 election after a second-round run-off against the incumbent, Ibrahim Mohamed Soli.
00:11 The election, perceived as a test for nascent democracy in Indian Ocean archipelago, also
00:16 held implications for the country's relationships with China and its traditional ally, India.
00:21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mohamed Mouizou on being elected as the new
00:25 president. Tweeting out his wishes, PM Modi said, "India remains committed to strengthening
00:30 the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing our overall cooperation in the
00:36 Indian Ocean region."
00:38 Mouizou, aged 45, leads a party that during its previous tenure welcomed substantial Chinese
00:44 loans and implemented a comprehensive crackdown on dissent. The run-off results prompted Soli
00:49 to concede defeat, acknowledging Mouizou's win with 54.06% of the vote, according to
00:55 the Elections Commission of the Maldives.
00:58 Soli, aged 61, will continue as a caretaker president until Mouizou's inauguration on
01:03 November 17. Mouizou had unexpectedly emerged as the front-runner in the first round of
01:07 voting on September 8, securing 46% of the vote's cast, while Soli faced challenges
01:13 with low voter turnout and a split within his Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP, winning
01:19 39%.
01:21 The run-off held significant implications for the Maldives' foreign policy, particularly
01:26 in determining the battle for influence between China and India. Mouizou's victory is being
01:31 seen as a reflection of patriotism among the Maldivian people, with calls for respecting
01:35 the nation's independence and sovereignty.
01:38 Mouizou, currently the mayor of the capital Mali, played a crucial role in the previous
01:43 government's development programme, partially financed by China's Belt and Road Infrastructure
01:48 Initiative. His return to power might also influence the potential release of former
01:52 President Abdullah Yameen, serving an 11-year prison term for corruption and money laundering.
01:58 The election dynamics underscored concerns over Indian influence, with Mouizou promising
02:03 to re-evaluate trade relations and remove Indian troops if elected. However, experts
02:08 suggest that the election outcome primarily reflected dissatisfaction with the government's
02:12 economic and governance performance, rather than specific concerns about Indian influence.
02:18 Despite Yameen's alignment with China's Belt and Road Initiative during his presidency,
02:23 Mouizou is expected to maintain the country's foreign policy, offering a significant place
02:27 to India, while opposition to Chinese projects might ease, balancing the power dynamics.
02:33 -
02:39 (drums beating)
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