The 10th presidential election of the Republic of the Maldives will take place on September 7. The President is elected by an absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a five-year term. Four candidates – incumbent President Mohammed Waheed (Gaumee Itthihaad Party), former and ousted President Mohamed Nasheed (Maldives Democratic Party), Qasim Ibrahim (Jumhooree Party), and Abdulla Yameen (Progressive Party of Maldives) – are running for office, with the incumbent president Waheed and former President Nasheed being the leading contenders.
If no candidate acquires more than 50% of the total ballots polled in the first round, a run-off will take place on September 28.
In February 2012, Mohamed Nasheed, then President of the Maldives stepped down from the office, and current President Mohammed Waheed took over – an incident the former later alleged was part of a coup that was forced upon him.
India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links, and enjoy close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations. Both nations have consistently supported each other in multilateral fora such as the UN, the Commonwealth, the NAM and the SAARC.
All the parties have held consultations with New Delhi, but the nation is expanding its traditional sources of economic aid – India and the West – by reaching out to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, which are in the process of negotiating loans of $30 million, $150 million and $300 million respectively.