Former Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel has been appointed today to the post of President at the Elections Commission. 

Shakeel was recently appointed as a member of the Elections Commission following the resignation of the commission's former president Mohamed Zahid.   

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu then nominated Shakeel for the post of President at the Elections Commission, and forwarded it for parliamentary approval. 

Yesterday, the parliament approved Shakeel's appointment with 51 votes in favour. Eight MPs from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against.

The Elections Commission stated today that President Muizzu has officially appointed Shakeel as President of the commission today. 

Until his appointment as a member of the Elections Commission, Shakeel served as the Managing Director of Hajj Corporation. He was also the most recent registrar of ruling People's National Congress (PNC). 

Shakeel has also previously worked at the Elections Commission. He served as Director General, and later as a commission member. After three years as a member, Shakeel resigned in 2018. In a recent parliamen committee meeting, Shakeel said that he had resigned at the time as there was no suitable environment within the commission to allow him to work independently.