PARADISE, POWER AND ELECTIONS: SOME QUESTIONS AS THE MALDIVES VOTE
WHO IS RUNNING?
Abdulla Yameen, 59, a civil servant turned strongman President, is seeking a second term in office.
The Opposition has fielded a joint candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 54.
Campaigning has been tough with much of which operating from exile
Mohamed Nasheed, an exiled opposition figure, withdrew his candidacy after being barred from running.
WHO WILL WIN?
The odds are stacked in Yameen's favour.
Harsh fines and vague decrees to silence dissent and impose censorship in the lead- up to polling day
Wearing T- shirts emblazoned with opposition figures is out of bounds
New vote- counting rules adopted just days before the poll threatens to further shore up a Yameen victory,
Human Rights Watch alleged Maldivians denied a right to choose.
The Opposition is confident voters will vote against the regime
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Maldives is a hugely popular holiday destination, attracting nearly 1.4 million foreigners.
Election irregularities, or a repeat of February's constitutional hijinks, could see sanctions imposed.
The EU said in July it was ready to impose travel bans and asset freezes if the situation did not improve.
FREE AND FAIR POLLS?
The Opposition accused Yameen of laying the groundwork to “steal” this election
It drew parallels with his controversial 2013 victory
Yameen clinched power after the SC annulled the results of the first round of voting — which had him trailing Nasheed.
The vote was delayed twice