20th People's Majlis: Abdul Raheem as Speaker, Nazim as Deputy Speaker

In today's first sitting of the 20th People's Majlis, Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla has been elected to the post of Parliament Speaker, with Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim being elected as Deputy Speaker.

Both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are from ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

Prior to being elected to Parliament, Abdul Raheem served as Special Advisor to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

The elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker were carried out at the parliament's first sitting conducted following the oath taking ceremony held early this morning.

This initial sitting was presided over by the MP who had served the longest consecutive term in Parliament, MP for Meedhoo constituency, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) Leader Ahmed Siyam.

Candidates for the post of Speaker were PNC's Abdul Raheem Abdulla and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party MP for South Hithadhoo Ibrahim Nazil.

Abdul Raheem won the seat with 71 votes. Nazil received 14 votes, 2 more than the total number of members his party has in parliament this term. 7 votes were ruled invalid. Although all 93 members were present, 1 member - MP Siyam - abstained.

The post of Deputy Speaker also had two candidates: PNC's Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim and MDP's Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi.

Nazim secured the post of Deputy Speaker with 80 votes, while Ahmed Didi received 12. No invalid votes were present. In this vote too, MP Siyam abstained.

The votes in both elections were counted by a dedicated committee appointed by the parliament. This committee is made up of five members: Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi, Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim, Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, North Maafannu MP Ahmed Nazim and Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas.

After the elections concluded, Speaker Abdul Raheem presided over the parliament sitting for the first time.

He expressed his confidence that the 20th Parliament will work tirelessly to serve the nation. While there will be space for different views and opinions, the work must proceed in a way that upholds the respect of the Parliament, he asserted.