54 year old Economist Abdulla Yameen has been sworn in as the President of Maldives after securing a winning 51.3% in the General Elections held yesterday. This ends two years of political uncertainties that posed serious threat to the Indian Ocean holiday paradise’s vital tourism sector.
He defeated former President Mohamed Nasheed by a narrow margin. Mr Yameen is the half-brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago for 30 years.
After the Victory, Mr Yameen said: “It’s now time to bring peace, the people have decided. It’s now time for development.”
He said his priority was the economy, notably stabilising the rupiah and creating jobs.
During his campaign, the 54-year-old economist had pledged to pursue oil exploration and encourage foreign investment in extraction. He said that he wants to establish a small but effective government, adding that he would take steps to reduce government expenditure. He noted that the economy is suffering so that his priority will be to improve the economy.
His running mate Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has taken oath as Vice President.
Mr Nasheed won a first vote on September 7 with 45 per cent, but the result was scrapped by the Supreme Court which upheld a complaint about voter list irregularities. After another attempt to hold the poll was blocked, a re-run of the first round took place on November 9.
Mr Nasheed won by a larger margin of nearly 47 per cent, but still not enough for an outright victory.
A run-off election announced for the day after by the independent Election Commission was again cancelled by the Supreme Court, which is dominated by judges named during Mr Gayoom’s three-decade rule.