After winning this year's presidential election as the People's National Congress (PNC) candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took the oath of office and assumed the presidency on Friday evening.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan at a special sitting of parliament.
Muizzu becomes the eighth President of the Maldives and the seventh President of the second republic.
Earlier on Friday, Muizzu resigned as the Mayor of Male'. He previously served as Housing Minister in two previous administrations.
Muizzu began his political career in 2005 with the Adhaalath Party (AP). He became Housing Minister in the government of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik after the transfer of power on February 7, 2012 from former President Mohamed Nasheed.
The 45-year-old Muizzu was born on June 15, 1978. Muizzu and his wife Saajidha Mohamed have three children.
Hailing from Haa Alif Vashafaru, Muizzu studied in Male' and pursued a degree in structural engineering, a master in civil engineering and PhD in civil engineering. He earned his PhD from the University of Leeds in the UK.
Muizzu served as Housing Minister in the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen that took office in 2013 as a member of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
But he left the MDA before the end of the term and joined the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Significant projects carried out while Muizzu was Housing Minister include the Hulhumale' bridge, Rasfannu beach, Sultan Park, other parks in Male' and the "King Salman Mosque," the largest mosque in Male'.
In his political career, Muizzu served as Vice President of the PPM. He left the party to contest in the primary of the PNC to elect a backup candidate if former President Yameen's candidacy was rejected.
Muizzu won the primary after competing against Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef.
