The upcoming presidential elections in the Maldives mark a critical turning point in the country’s political landscape, giving the public a choice between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former President Abdulla Yameen, and providing an opportunity for the nation to shape its future, according to the Europe Asia Foundation.
The Maldives’ political environment is buzzing with anticipation and preparations for this year’s presidential elections, which are scheduled for September 9th. In a recent press conference, the chairman of the Election Commission (EC), Fuad Thaufeeq, announced that if necessary, a second round of voting would take place on September 30.
The country is on the verge of a crucial democratic exercise that will influence the island’s future direction. According to the EC’s forecasts, the forthcoming election will have a higher voter turnout than the 2018 presidential election, with over 280,000 people expected to vote, outnumbering the previous record by around 21,000 voters.
The key race for the country’s highest position is expected to be fought mostly between candidates from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), according to the Europe Asia Foundation.
The Maldives are located mostly in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean, just south of India’s huge subcontinent. This magnificent archipelago of roughly 1,200 islands is home to a population of nearly 500,000 people.
