Maldives strongman challenges election defeat

Maldives strongman President Abdulla Yameen filed a legal petition on Wednesday (Oct 10) challenging his landslide election defeat last month despite major international pressure for him to step down. Lawyers for Maldives strongman Abdulla Yameen allege his defeat in September’s polls was rigged by the independent election commission. (Photo: AFP/Handout) Lawyers for Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) told reporters that they are alleging that the Sep 23 vote was rigged by the independent election commission. “We reviewed the numerous complaints filed by President Yameen’s supporters before deciding to file this challenge,” Yameen’s lead lawyer Mohamed Saleem told reporters. “So in light of that, President Yameen decided that the challenge must be filed for the rights of his supporters,” he added. It was however unclear whether the Supreme Court would agree to consider the challenge. The election in the Indian Ocean archipelago, which has seen a tussle for influence between India and China, was won by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih with 58.4 per cent of the vote. Solih was little known before the election but was backed, in a remarkable turn of events given the Maldives’ turbulent recent political history, by all opposition parties, All of Yameen’s other main rivals were either behind bars on charges that critics said were trumped up, or in exile. Yameen had reluctantly conceded defeat amid international pressure from regional superpower and immediate neighbour India and others. But he has been publicly urging his supporters to challenge the results. Constitutionally, he can remain in office till… [Read full story]