This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/08/maldives-presidential-election-second-round

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Maldives presidential election goes to second-round vote Maldives presidential election goes to second-round vote
(35 minutes later)
The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, ousted in 2012 in what he called a coup, faces a runoff against the brother of the country's former dictator after falling short of a clear majority in the presidential election.The first democratically elected president of the Maldives, ousted in 2012 in what he called a coup, faces a runoff against the brother of the country's former dictator after falling short of a clear majority in the presidential election.
Mohamed Nasheed, who is the candidate of the Maldivian Democratic party (MDP), received 45% of the vote on Saturday, election officials announced . He needed half of the votes cast to win outright. The veteran human rights and climate change campaigner could find it hard to secure a second-round majority if his three election opponents form an alliance for the runoff on 28 September.Mohamed Nasheed, who is the candidate of the Maldivian Democratic party (MDP), received 45% of the vote on Saturday, election officials announced . He needed half of the votes cast to win outright. The veteran human rights and climate change campaigner could find it hard to secure a second-round majority if his three election opponents form an alliance for the runoff on 28 September.
Nasheed won the country's first multiparty election after 30 years of autocracy in 2008. He will now have to beat Abdullah Yameen, a brother of the Maldives' former autocratic ruler, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to retake the presidency. Yameen polled 25% on Saturday while businessman Gasim Ibrahim, one of the Maldives' richest men, came a close third with 24%. Incumbent President Mohamed Waheed Hassan ended with 5%, according to official results. Nasheed won the country's first multiparty election after 30 years of autocracy in 2008. He will now have to beat Abdulla Yameen, a brother of the Maldives' former autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to retake the presidency. Yameen polled 25% on Saturday while businessman Qasim Ibrahim, one of the Maldives' richest men, came a close third with 24%. The incumbent, Mohamed Waheed Hassan, ended with 5%, according to official results.
The Indian Ocean archipelago nation, known for its luxurious beach resorts, has been in political turmoil since Nasheed ordered the military to arrest a senior judge whom he accused of bias. Weeks of public protests ensued and Nasheed eventually resigned in February last year, later arguing he was forced out at gunpoint by mutinying security forces and politicians backed by the country's former autocrat. The Indian Ocean archipelago nation has been in political turmoil since Nasheed ordered the military to arrest a senior judge whom he accused of bias. Weeks of public protests ensued and Nasheed eventually resigned in February last year, later arguing he was forced out at gunpoint by security forces and politicians backed by the country's former autocrat.
Though a Commonwealth-backed commision threw out his claim, Nasheed has repeatedly dismissed as illegal the government of Waheed, his former vice-president who took over the top office. Transparency Maldives, an independent election monitor, said that apart from minor complaints of violence the first-round polling was free and peaceful, although there are fears that the second round later this month could be marred by violence. The election pits the broadly leftwing MDP and Nasheed against more conservative, business-orientated parties and candidates. Observers claim supporters of third- and fourth-place finishers in the first round are likely to vote against Nasheed. Though a Commonwealth-backed commission threw out his claim, Nasheed has repeatedly dismissed as illegal the government of Waheed, his former vice-president who took over the top office. Transparency Maldives, an independent election monitor, said that apart from minor complaints of violence the first-round polling was free and peaceful, although there are fears that the second round later this month could be marred by violence. The election pits the broadly leftwing MDP and Nasheed against more conservative, business-orientated parties and candidates. Observers claim supporters of third- and fourth-place finishers in the first round are likely to vote against Nasheed.
"We expected it to go to a second round so were not disappointed,"said Aminah Faina, a 33-year-old shopworker who voted for Yameen. "It will be very close. But a unity government under Yameen would be much more Islamic and that is what the Maldives needs." "We expected it to go to a second round so were not disappointed," said Aminah Faina, a 33-year-old shopworker who voted for Yameen. "It will be very close. But a unity government under Yameen would be much more Islamic and that is what the Maldives needs."
The religious identity of the Sunni Muslim nation has been a major issue in the election and in the chaotic politics on the Indian Ocean archipelago since 2008. Nasheed, who has vocally supported a moderate form of Muslim thought and practice, has been attacked by opponents as anti-Islamic. Many of the former president's supporters expected a crushing first round win leading to an immediate return to power. The religious identity of the mostly Sunni Muslim country has been a major issue in the election and in the chaotic politics on the Indian Ocean archipelago since 2008. Nasheed, who has vocally supported a moderate form of Muslim thought and practice, has been attacked by opponents as anti-Islamic. Many of the former president's supporters expected a crushing first round win leading to an immediate return to power.
"We'd planned a big victory rally on the front but instead everyone just went home," Abdul Rashid, a 47-year-old boat mechanic, said. "We'll have to save the celebration party until the 28th.""We'd planned a big victory rally on the front but instead everyone just went home," Abdul Rashid, a 47-year-old boat mechanic, said. "We'll have to save the celebration party until the 28th."
The election recorded a voter turnout of 88%, up from 85% in 2008. Critical challenges facing the next president include a rise in Islamist ideology, human rights abuses and lack of investor confidence after Waheed's government cancelled the country's biggest foreign investment project with India's GMR Infrastructure. Political instability has hit tourism and growth has slowed drastically in recent years. Mohamed Aslam, a senior member of the MDP and a former minister of housing and environment, said his party did not get the votes it expected in Male, the capital, one of Nasheed's strongholds. Nasheed said earlier he had support in the ranks of the military and police, expressing confidence he would get half the vote to win in the first round. The election recorded a voter turnout of 88%, up from 85% in 2008. Critical challenges facing the next president include a rise in Islamist ideology, human rights abuses and lack of investor confidence after Waheed's government cancelled the country's biggest foreign investment project with India's GMR Infrastructure. Political instability has hit tourism, which accounts for more than a quarter of GDP, and growth has slowed drastically in recent years. Mohamed Aslam, a senior member of the MDP and a former minister of housing and environment, said his party did not get the votes it expected in Male, the capital, one of Nasheed's strongholds. Nasheed said earlier he had support in the ranks of the military and police, expressing confidence he would get half the vote to win in the first round.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.