October 1: Maldives opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz, who supports closer ties between the Indian Ocean archipelago and China, won the presidential runoff on Saturday with more than 53% of the vote, local media reported.

The election has turned into a virtual referendum on which regional power — India or China — will have the biggest influence in the small nation.

Muiz promised he would remove Indian troops from the Maldives and balance the country’s trade relations, which he said were heavily in India’s favor.

Mihaaru News reported that incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, seen as pro-India, had received 46% of the vote and that Muiz had won by more than 18,000 votes. 

“With today’s result we have got the opportunity to build the country’s future. The strength to ensure the freedom of Maldives,” Muiz said in a statement after his victory.

 “It’s time we put our differences aside and come together. We need to be a peaceful society,” said Muiz. (Agencies)