President Waheed scores “first political win” with weekend’s polls, reports regional media
15 Apr 2012, 3:52 PM
Daniel Bosley
Regional media reports have begun to surface following the outcome of yesterday’s parliamentary by-elections in Kaashidhoo and Thimarafushi – interpreting poll results as a major victory for President Mohamed Waheed Hassan.
The Hindustan Times ran with the headline “Maldives bypolls: First political win for president”. Meanwhile, the Pakistan-based Business Recorder described the president as having “successfully faced down his first popularity test.”
However, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which continues to question the legitimacy of Dr Waheed’s administration, has hit out at suggestions that the polls reflected widespread public support for the government.
As polling commenced yesterday, President Waheed’s own Gaumee Itihad Party (GIP) did not field any candidates for the by-elections. Instead, the president threw his support behind candidates from the former opposition Jumhoree Party (JP) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
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