Maldives: Surprise Election Result Could Upset Regional Balances

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pulled off a general election stunner in the Maldives, handily unseating incumbent President Yameen Abdul Gayoom in balloting held Sept. 23. Solih's victory, however, didn't just deny Yameen another five-year term, but it also has the potential to shift the power balance between India and China amid their intensifying rivalry in the Indian Ocean. In the end, Solih overcame alleged vote-rigging and other concerns over the election's transparency to win the contest, which attracted nearly 90 percent of the country's 262,000 eligible voters, by a reported 16 points....