Maldives Election Result Halts Drift Toward Authoritarianism

President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said he wants to improve relations with democratic governments in India and the West

In Sunday’s election, Maldives opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih defeated President Abdulla Yameen, who aligned the archipelago with China and cracked down on dissent. Photo: Getty Images
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Maldives leader Abdulla Yameen conceded defeat on Monday to a candidate who has pledged to reverse the country’s slide toward authoritarianism, marking a setback for China, which had forged strong ties with the president in an effort to expand its influence.

Voters in the Maldives elected Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a longtime parliamentarian who has said he wants to improve relations with democratic governments in India and the West. New Delhi described the outcome as a “triumph of democratic forces” in the country, which turned...