The opposition candidate, Mohamed Muiz, came to the forefront of the race, gaining over 46% of support. The incumbent president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, despite previous forecasts indicating him as the favorite, received only 39% of the votes. The elections in the Maldives are not only a competition between two candidates, but also between two superpowers: India and China. President Solih is closer to New Delhi, and the opposition candidate maintains close ties with Beijing.
![Maldives at a crossroads after the elections: The Maldives held its presidential elections on September 9. They did not produce a clear verdict, so a second round will be held on September 30. [09/09/2023]](https://csm.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cairo-news_1-300x250.jpg)