What led to Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation in 2012?

Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation in early 2012 followed weeks of public protests triggered by his decision to order the arrest of a senior criminal court judge, whom he accused of bias in favor of the political opposition.123

While Nasheed characterized his departure as a coup d’état forced by the police and military, an official commission of inquiry backed by the Commonwealth later concluded that his resignation was voluntary. Following his resignation, Nasheed was replaced by his vice president, Mohamed Waheed Hassan. His administration had previously faced significant legislative and judicial obstruction from loyalists of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, which hampered his efforts to implement reforms.123