What's happened
Pro-China candidate leads in first round, setting up a showdown with the India-friendly incumbent
Why it matters
The outcome will determine the future geopolitical influence of India and China in the Indian Ocean archipelago state.
What the papers say
Nikkei Asia reports that Mohamed Muizzu performed much better than expected, while Al Jazeera highlights his promise to check India's influence in the Maldives. AP News emphasizes the virtual referendum over India or China's influence in the country.
How we got here
The incumbent President Solih sought re-election amid allegations by his main rival, Mohamed Muizzu, that he has allowed India an unchecked presence in the country.
More on these topics
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The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island nation in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The chain of 26
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Mohamed Muizzu is a Maldivian politician who is currently serving as president of the Maldives since 17 November 2023. He was selected for his party's nomination after former president Abdulla Yameen was jailed for serious corruption charges.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.