2008 Maldivian presidential election

2008 Maldivian presidential election

8 October 2008 (first round)
28 October 2008 (second round)
Turnout85.38% (first round)
86.58% (second round)
 
Nominee Mohamed Nasheed Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Party Democratic People's
Running mate Mohamed Waheed Hassan Ahmed Thasmeen Ali
Popular vote 97,222 82,121
Percentage 54.21% 45.79%

Second round results by atoll

President before election

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
People's

Elected President

Mohamed Nasheed
Democratic

Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 8 and 23 October 2008, the first democratic elections in the country. As no candidate won a majority in the first round, a runoff was held on 28 October between the two candidates among the contestants who received the most votes, incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, who received the second most votes after Gayoom in the first round. Nasheed was elected to the office after winning a majority in the runoff, unseating incumbent president Gayoom who held the office for six terms, lasting three decades.