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He said that these military personnel make special use of certain parts of the country and airports. More than 2,82,000 people are eligible to vote in the presidential election. Any candidate needs to get one vote more than 50 percent to win.
Voting for the second phase of the presidential election in Maldives will now be held on September 30 after none of the eight candidates got more than 50 percent of the votes required for a clear victory. The Election Commission said that in the second phase the contest will be between the top two candidates. Opposition candidate Mohammed Muiz has received more than 46 percent of the votes in the election, while outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has received 39 percent of the votes. In a way, this election is also a referendum on which regional power, India or China, will have more influence on this island country in the Indian Ocean. Solih is considered pro-India, while Muiz is considered pro-China.
Solih is seeking re-election for a second term and is battling allegations from Muiz that he has allowed India an uncontrolled presence in the country. Muiz has promised that if he wins the election, he will send back Indian troops present in Maldives and balance the country’s trade relations. He says that currently trade relations are in favor of India. Muiz’s party ‘People’s National Congress’ is considered pro-China. ‘People’s National Congress’ leader and former President Abdulla Yameen had made Maldives a part of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ project during his tenure from 2013 to 2018.
The project envisages the construction of ports, railway lines and roads to expand trade and China’s influence throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. Mohammad Sharif, a senior official of Muiz’s party, told ‘The ociated Press’ that the removal of Indian troops is the party’s priority. Sharif said that the people of Maldives are not aware of the number of Indian soldiers and their activities. He said that these military personnel make special use of certain parts of the country and airports. More than 2,82,000 people are eligible to vote in the presidential election. Any candidate needs to get one vote more than 50 percent to win.
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