Wion speaks to Imthiyaz Fahmy on Maldives Presidential Poll Results

The Maldives Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the outgoing President Abdulla Yameen's defeat in the September's polls as it rejected a petition&nbsp;filed last week&nbsp;by his party.

On October 10, Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives had filed a petition in the top court seeking annulment of the controversial poll result, alleging that vote was rigged by the independent election commission of the country.

Today, the five-judge Supreme Court bench unanimously ruled that Yameen had failed to prove his claim that the September 23 vote won by opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was rigged.

Yameen is due to hand over power on November 17.&nbsp;

Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won a surprise presidential election victory on September 23.

Results released by the electoral commission had shown Yameen's PPM on 41.7 per cent of the vote, well behind Solih on 58.3 per cent. Nearly 90 per cent of the 262,000 electorates turned out to vote during the election.

The results were hailed by India and the US as a victory for democratic forces.

In February Yameen had imposed a 45-day state of emergency cracking down on the Opposition and imprisoning the country's Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
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The Maldives Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the outgoing President Abdulla Yameen's defeat in the September's polls as it rejected a petition filed last week by his party.

The Maldives Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the outgoing President Abdulla Yameen's defeat in the September's polls as it rejected a petition filed last week by his party. On October 10, Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives had filed a petition in the top court seeking annulment of the controversial poll result, alleging that vote was rigged by the independent election commission of the country. Today, the five-judge Supreme Court bench unanimously ruled that Yameen had failed to prove his claim that the September 23 vote won by opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was rigged. Yameen is due to hand over power on November 17. Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won a surprise presidential election victory on September 23. Results released by the electoral commission had shown Yameen's PPM on 41.7 per cent of the vote, well behind Solih on 58.3 per cent. Nearly 90 per cent of the 262,000 electorates turned out to vote during the election. The results were hailed by India and the US as a victory for democratic forces. In February Yameen had imposed a 45-day state of emergency cracking down on the Opposition and imprisoning the country's Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges.

Maldives Supreme Court upholds Abdulla Yameen's election defeat 

Outgoing Maldives President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-judges-hear-strongmans-election-challenge-171447">Abdulla Yameen</a> said disappearing ink and specially treated ballot papers were to blame for his heavy election defeat last month.

The strongman leader of the honeymoon island nation had been expected to romp home in the September 23 poll, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote.

But in a surprise turn of events, a little-known united opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was declared the winner, sparking celebrations across the tropical holiday destination.

Yameen initially said he accepted defeat, and was ready to step down when his term ends on November 17. But last week he launched a Supreme Court challenge, seeking to annul the result.

At a hearing on Sunday which resumed Monday, Yameen's lawyer Mohamed Saleem accused the printer of coating ballot papers with an unnamed substance to make votes marked in Yameen's box vanish.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-judges-hear-strongmans-election-challenge-171467">Maldives opposition supporters protest as court reviews election challenge</a>

Saleem said a "special pen with disappearing ink" had been given to people who were going to vote for his client, a reporter at the hearing said.

A lawyer for the Elections Commission, which Yameen accused of colluding with the printer to ensure his defeat, on Sunday denied any wrongdoing, including using any special ink.

A day ahead of the court hearing in the capital Male, the United States warned "appropriate measures" would be taken if the will of the Maldivian people was undermined.

Europe and India have also issued similar warnings in the past.

The US and its allies have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under Yameen's authoritarian rule.

Yameen's Progressive Party (PPM) on Saturday said the vote was the "most farcical election in living memory" with the organisation "abysmal" and vote-rigging "rampant".

Outgoing Maldives President Abdulla Yameen said disappearing ink and specially treated ballot papers were to blame for his heavy election defeat last month. The strongman leader of the honeymoon island nation had been expected to romp home in the September 23 poll, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote.

Outgoing Maldives President Abdulla Yameen said disappearing ink and specially treated ballot papers were to blame for his heavy election defeat last month. The strongman leader of the honeymoon island nation had been expected to romp home in the September 23 poll, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote. But in a surprise turn of events, a little-known united opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was declared the winner, sparking celebrations across the tropical holiday destination. Yameen initially said he accepted defeat, and was ready to step down when his term ends on November 17. But last week he launched a Supreme Court challenge, seeking to annul the result. At a hearing on Sunday which resumed Monday, Yameen's lawyer Mohamed Saleem accused the printer of coating ballot papers with an unnamed substance to make votes marked in Yameen's box vanish. Also read: Maldives opposition supporters protest as court reviews election challenge Saleem said a "special pen with disappearing ink" had been given to people who were going to vote for his client, a reporter at the hearing said. A lawyer for the Elections Commission, which Yameen accused of colluding with the printer to ensure his defeat, on Sunday denied any wrongdoing, including using any special ink. A day ahead of the court hearing in the capital Male, the United States warned "appropriate measures" would be taken if the will of the Maldivian people was undermined. Europe and India have also issued similar warnings in the past. The US and its allies have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under Yameen's authoritarian rule. Yameen's Progressive Party (PPM) on Saturday said the vote was the "most farcical election in living memory" with the organisation "abysmal" and vote-rigging "rampant".

Maldives President Yameen blames election defeat on 'disappearing ink'

The party of defeated Maldives'&nbsp;President Abdulla Yameen has requested a delay in the publication of the final results for an election for which Yameen conceded defeat on Monday, Elections Commission chief Ahmed Shareef said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"PPM (Progressive Party of Maldives) has raised some concerns and asked the commission to delay the announcement of the official results," Shareef told Reuters.&nbsp;

Shareef said the "lawful deadline" for issuing final results was Sunday and the Commission had not yet decided on the PPM`s request. "The Commission has not been briefed on the nature of the complaints yet, but there are allegations of fraud from what I understand," he said.

The party of defeated Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen has requested a delay in the publication of the final results for an election for which Yameen conceded defeat on Monday, Elections Commission chief Ahmed Shareef said on Wednesday.

The party of defeated Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen has requested a delay in the publication of the final results for an election for which Yameen conceded defeat on Monday, Elections Commission chief Ahmed Shareef said on Wednesday. "PPM (Progressive Party of Maldives) has raised some concerns and asked the commission to delay the announcement of the official results," Shareef told Reuters. Shareef said the "lawful deadline" for issuing final results was Sunday and the Commission had not yet decided on the PPM`s request. "The Commission has not been briefed on the nature of the complaints yet, but there are allegations of fraud from what I understand," he said.

Defeated Maldives leader Yameen's party asks to delay final vote results

Veteran Maldives lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih overcame the detention and exile of key opposition figures to win a weekend presidential poll and unseat incumbent Abdulla Yameen, but now faces the task of holding together a disparate coalition.

The Maldives, a string of palm-fringed islands and atolls 325 miles (523 kilometres) southwest of the southern tip of India, is best known as a luxury holiday destination.

But the Muslim nation of fewer than half a million has suffered a turbulent transition to democracy since the end of three decades of authoritarian rule in 2008.

The victory of Solih, who is known as a reformer, dislodges Yameen, a hardliner who had cultivated ties with both Beijing and Saudi Arabia, and cracked down on threats to his rule, even jailing his own half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

But Solih, who is expected to be sworn in on November 17, must now keep together a coalition that includes two fierce rivals, Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, both former presidents.

Also part of the unlikely alliance, held together by a pro-Islam religious agenda, are business tycoon Qasim Ibrahim’s Jumhooree Party and the Islamist Adhaalath Party, which formed a coalition that led to the downfall of Gayoon in 2013.

"For the president-elect, ensuring a smooth transition and then selecting an all-acceptable, multi-party Cabinet would be the first priority," said N Sathiya Moorthy, an analyst at Indian think tank the Observer Research Foundation.

"He would have to facilitate the return home of both Nasheed and Qasim Ibrahim, who are in self-exile."

Reformer and negotiator

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) nominated Solih, popularly known as "Ibu", as its presidential candidate after the Elections Commission barred Nasheed, now in exile in Sri Lanka, from standing.

Many key opposition leaders, two former presidents Gayoom and Nasheed, a vice president and scores of ministers were hit with jail terms after swift trials that drew international criticism.

Solih has been in the opposition since he first entered parliament, known as the People's Majlis, in 1994, except for a two-year spell under Nasheed, before the latter was ousted amid a police mutiny.

A close confidant of the former president and married to one of his cousins, Solih played a leading role in forming the Maldives Political Reform Movement from 2003 until 2008, which culminated in the adoption of a new constitution.

He was also part of the special parliament set up under Gayoom, who ruled the tropical islands for three decades until 2008, to write a new modern constitution for a multi-party democracy. He has led the opposition in parliament since 2011.

He led the MDP during protests in March 2015 after Nasheed's arrest for alleged terror offences, charges the opposition called politically motivated.

Friends say Solih has a calm temperament, and is likely to champion democracy and freedom of expression.

He has already said he will seek to free all political prisoners, including Gayoom. He also wants to rework or scrap deals not made in the best interests of the Maldives, as well as restore ties with India, which could, in turn, strain relations with Beijing.

Veteran Maldives lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih overcame the detention and exile of key opposition figures to win a weekend presidential poll and unseat incumbent Abdulla Yameen, but now faces the task of holding together a disparate coalition.

Veteran Maldives lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih overcame the detention and exile of key opposition figures to win a weekend presidential poll and unseat incumbent Abdulla Yameen, but now faces the task of holding together a disparate coalition. The Maldives, a string of palm-fringed islands and atolls 325 miles (523 kilometres) southwest of the southern tip of India, is best known as a luxury holiday destination. But the Muslim nation of fewer than half a million has suffered a turbulent transition to democracy since the end of three decades of authoritarian rule in 2008. The victory of Solih, who is known as a reformer, dislodges Yameen, a hardliner who had cultivated ties with both Beijing and Saudi Arabia, and cracked down on threats to his rule, even jailing his own half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. But Solih, who is expected to be sworn in on November 17, must now keep together a coalition that includes two fierce rivals, Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, both former presidents. Also part of the unlikely alliance, held together by a pro-Islam religious agenda, are business tycoon Qasim Ibrahim’s Jumhooree Party and the Islamist Adhaalath Party, which formed a coalition that led to the downfall of Gayoon in 2013. "For the president-elect, ensuring a smooth transition and then selecting an all-acceptable, multi-party Cabinet would be the first priority," said N Sathiya Moorthy, an analyst at Indian think tank the Observer Research Foundation. "He would have to facilitate the return home of both Nasheed and Qasim Ibrahim, who are in self-exile." Reformer and negotiator The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) nominated Solih, popularly known as "Ibu", as its presidential candidate after the Elections Commission barred Nasheed, now in exile in Sri Lanka, from standing. Many key opposition leaders, two former presidents Gayoom and Nasheed, a vice president and scores of ministers were hit with jail terms after swift trials that drew international criticism. Solih has been in the opposition since he first entered parliament, known as the People's Majlis, in 1994, except for a two-year spell under Nasheed, before the latter was ousted amid a police mutiny. A close confidant of the former president and married to one of his cousins, Solih played a leading role in forming the Maldives Political Reform Movement from 2003 until 2008, which culminated in the adoption of a new constitution. He was also part of the special parliament set up under Gayoom, who ruled the tropical islands for three decades until 2008, to write a new modern constitution for a multi-party democracy. He has led the opposition in parliament since 2011. He led the MDP during protests in March 2015 after Nasheed's arrest for alleged terror offences, charges the opposition called politically motivated. Friends say Solih has a calm temperament, and is likely to champion democracy and freedom of expression. He has already said he will seek to free all political prisoners, including Gayoom. He also wants to rework or scrap deals not made in the best interests of the Maldives, as well as restore ties with India, which could, in turn, strain relations with Beijing.

New Maldives President Solih: A reformer who must hold together a diverse coalition

Hundreds of Maldivians were headed to polling booths on Sunday as voting began in a controversial presidential election&nbsp;amid fears that the process has been rigged in China-friendly strongman Abdulla Yameen's favour.

Some 262,000 people in the archipelago -- famed for its white beaches and blue lagoons -- can vote in an election from which independent international monitors have been barred.

According to reports, only a handful of foreign media have been allowed in.

The news agency AFP quoted the Asian Network for Free Elections, a foreign monitoring group, saying that the campaign was heavily tilted in favour of the 59-year-old Yameen.

The network said it did not expect a fair contest.

"In the absence of any scrutiny (of the elections) or pressure (on the government), sombre events surely loom ahead for the people of Maldives," it said on the eve of the vote.

Yameen has imprisoned or forced into exile all his main rivals and is expected to retain his hold on power in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Foreign monitors and the opposition have slammed his government for its crackdown on opponents and the media, and urged the international community not to recognise the results of the election.

Meanwhile, before polls opened in the morning, police raided the campaign headquarters of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), searched the building for several hours in a bid to stop what they called "illegal activities".&nbsp;

However, no arrests were made.

(With inputs from news agency)

Hundreds of Maldivians were headed to polling booths on Sunday as voting began in a controversial presidential election amid fears that the process has been rigged in China-friendly strongman Abdulla Yameen's favour.

Hundreds of Maldivians were headed to polling booths on Sunday as voting began in a controversial presidential election amid fears that the process has been rigged in China-friendly strongman Abdulla Yameen's favour. Some 262,000 people in the archipelago -- famed for its white beaches and blue lagoons -- can vote in an election from which independent international monitors have been barred. According to reports, only a handful of foreign media have been allowed in. The news agency AFP quoted the Asian Network for Free Elections, a foreign monitoring group, saying that the campaign was heavily tilted in favour of the 59-year-old Yameen. The network said it did not expect a fair contest. "In the absence of any scrutiny (of the elections) or pressure (on the government), sombre events surely loom ahead for the people of Maldives," it said on the eve of the vote. Yameen has imprisoned or forced into exile all his main rivals and is expected to retain his hold on power in the Indian Ocean island nation. Foreign monitors and the opposition have slammed his government for its crackdown on opponents and the media, and urged the international community not to recognise the results of the election. Meanwhile, before polls opened in the morning, police raided the campaign headquarters of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), searched the building for several hours in a bid to stop what they called "illegal activities". However, no arrests were made. (With inputs from news agency)

Hundreds of Maldivians vote in controversial presidential poll

The Maldives -- a country of 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean best known for its white beaches and blue lagoons -- is voting on Sunday in a presidential election.

The archipelago of 260,000 people has seen political opposition suppressed and press freedom curtailed in recent years under its strongman leader.

Will the poll nudge the Maldives back toward democracy, or further its spiral into autocracy? Here are five things to know:

Who is the incumbent?

Abdulla Yameen, a once mild-mannered civil servant turned strongman president, is seeking a second term in office.&nbsp;

The 59-year-old has ruled with an iron fist since 2013. The free press has been cowed, the military used to stave off impeachment, and most opponents -- even Yameen's own half-brother -- have been jailed.

In a power struggle in February, Yameen launched what the UN called an "all-out assault on democracy", declaring a state of emergency.

At its height, he sent soldiers to storm the Supreme Court and arrest judges who had ordered the release of political prisoners. Emergency rule was not lifted for 45 days.

Who are the opposition?

The opposition have fielded a joint candidate, the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 54. But campaigning has been difficult, with many key figures in exile.

Mohamed Nasheed, an exiled opposition figure and former president, withdrew his candidacy after being barred from running. He was convicted of terrorism in 2015 in a trial widely viewed as politically motivated.

Do they stand a chance?

The odds are stacked in Yameen's favour.

Rights groups say his regime has used harsh fines and vague decrees to silence dissent and impose censorship in the lead-up to polling day. Even wearing T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of opposition figures is out of bounds, local journalists say.

Human Rights Watch says new vote-counting rules adopted just days before the poll favour Yameen and may deny Maldivians a right to choose.

The opposition has publicly expressed confidence that voters -- at home and abroad -- will come out against the regime. But it has accused Yameen of laying the groundwork to "steal" this election.

Why does it matter?

There are broader geopolitical concerns at play.&nbsp;

The Maldives, like other smaller regional countries once firmly in India's orbit, has drifted closer to China in recent years, which has given hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to the atoll nation.

Beijing has been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean -- a so-called "string of pearls" -- to counter the rise of its rival and secure its own economic interests.

The tropical archipelago is also a hugely popular holiday destination, attracting nearly 1.4 million foreigners in 2017.

What could happen next?

Election irregularities, or a repeat of February's constitutional hijinks, could see sanctions imposed.

The European Union said in July it was ready to impose travel bans and asset freezes on individuals if the situation did not improve.&nbsp;

The US State Department this month warned it would "consider appropriate measures" if the election was not free and fair.

The Maldives -- a country of 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean best known for its white beaches and blue lagoons -- is voting on Sunday in a presidential election.

The Maldives -- a country of 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean best known for its white beaches and blue lagoons -- is voting on Sunday in a presidential election. The archipelago of 260,000 people has seen political opposition suppressed and press freedom curtailed in recent years under its strongman leader. Will the poll nudge the Maldives back toward democracy, or further its spiral into autocracy? Here are five things to know: Who is the incumbent? Abdulla Yameen, a once mild-mannered civil servant turned strongman president, is seeking a second term in office. The 59-year-old has ruled with an iron fist since 2013. The free press has been cowed, the military used to stave off impeachment, and most opponents -- even Yameen's own half-brother -- have been jailed. In a power struggle in February, Yameen launched what the UN called an "all-out assault on democracy", declaring a state of emergency. At its height, he sent soldiers to storm the Supreme Court and arrest judges who had ordered the release of political prisoners. Emergency rule was not lifted for 45 days. Who are the opposition? The opposition have fielded a joint candidate, the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 54. But campaigning has been difficult, with many key figures in exile. Mohamed Nasheed, an exiled opposition figure and former president, withdrew his candidacy after being barred from running. He was convicted of terrorism in 2015 in a trial widely viewed as politically motivated. Do they stand a chance? The odds are stacked in Yameen's favour. Rights groups say his regime has used harsh fines and vague decrees to silence dissent and impose censorship in the lead-up to polling day. Even wearing T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of opposition figures is out of bounds, local journalists say. Human Rights Watch says new vote-counting rules adopted just days before the poll favour Yameen and may deny Maldivians a right to choose. The opposition has publicly expressed confidence that voters -- at home and abroad -- will come out against the regime. But it has accused Yameen of laying the groundwork to "steal" this election. Why does it matter? There are broader geopolitical concerns at play. The Maldives, like other smaller regional countries once firmly in India's orbit, has drifted closer to China in recent years, which has given hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to the atoll nation. Beijing has been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean -- a so-called "string of pearls" -- to counter the rise of its rival and secure its own economic interests. The tropical archipelago is also a hugely popular holiday destination, attracting nearly 1.4 million foreigners in 2017. What could happen next? Election irregularities, or a repeat of February's constitutional hijinks, could see sanctions imposed. The European Union said in July it was ready to impose travel bans and asset freezes on individuals if the situation did not improve. The US State Department this month warned it would "consider appropriate measures" if the election was not free and fair.

Paradise, power and polls: Five questions as Maldives vote

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