Maldives opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz wins the presidential runoff, local media say

By MOHAMED SHARUHAN
Associated Press

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Media in the Maldives say opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz, who supports closer ties between the Indian Ocean archipelago and China, won the presidential runoff on Saturday with more than 53% of the vote. The election has turned into a virtual referendum on which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the small nation. Muiz promised he would remove Indian troops from the Maldives and balance the country’s trade relations, which he said were heavily in India’s favor. Mihaaru News reported that incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, seen as pro-India, had received 46% of the vote and that Muiz had won by more than 18,000 votes. Official results are expected Sunday.