Outgoing president refuses to attend inauguration ceremony

President Abdulla Yameen will not be attending the inauguration of president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, his spokesman announced Friday night.

Yameen decided to shun the ceremony “because he believes the people of the Maldives have not received justice to date after losing an important right and to respect the request of thousands of supporters,” Ibrahim Muaz Ali tweeted.

After conceding defeat in September’s election, Yameen challenged the results and sought a Supreme Court ruling for fresh polls. But the court ruled there was no evidence to prove allegations of fraud and vote rigging.

The incumbent lost by a record margin of more than 38,000 votes. But Yameen claimed he should have received more than 96,000 votes (42 percent) and accused Elections Commission members of accepting bribes.