Supporters of Maldives opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih flooded the streets waving the national flag and honking horns to celebrate victory in the contentious presidential election.
It was an unexpected win as the opposition feared election would be rigged for the President who had cracked down heavily on political rivals, courts and media in his first term.
Project coordinator at Transparency Maldives nonprofit watchdog, Ahmed Tholal, said the result was expecting and people have now spoken their minds through their votes.
Tholal is also a former member of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives.
The 56-year-old Solih became presidential candidate of the Maldivian Democratic Party following other top leaders of the party were exiled or jailed by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom and his government. He was earlier a democracy activist during the era of autocratic rule.
He campaigned door to door with promises to promote human rights and rule of law. Voters saw that after about decade of democracy the country is slowly slipping back to autocratic rule. People feel Solih is differed from Yameen as he is mild and listens to everyone unlike the president who is brutal and dictator.
Former President and opposition party leader Mohamed Nasheed hoped to run for the election but was disqualified due to his outstanding prison sentence in the country. He is currently in exile in Sri Lanka.
Under the Yameen rule the island nation has seen decreased in democratic freedoms even though the World Bank data reveals the country has achieved longer life expectancy and growth in economy.
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