Opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz appears headed to victory in the Maldives presidential runoff

By MOHAMED SHARUHAN
Associated Press

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz appears to be heading for a win in the Maldives presidential runoff. According to local media, he has securing more than 53% of the vote after almost all the ballots were counted on Saturday. The election has turned into a virtual referendum on which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. Mihaaru News reported that incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had received 46% of the vote and Muiz is leading by 17,000 votes, with only 11,000 votes still to be counted. Official results are expected later on Saturday. Solih is seen as pro-Indian while Muiz’s party, the People’s National Congress, is viewed as heavily pro-China.