Presidential elections were held in the Maldives in two rounds on 8 and 28 October. No candidate gained more than 50% of the vote in the first round on 8 October; incumbent president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom fared best with about 40%. A runoff was thus held on 28 October between Gayoom and second-placed Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed won the election, unseating longtime incumbent Gayoom. The election was the first one held democratically in the history of the Maldives.