Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla, chairperson of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), has been elected as Speaker of Parliament.
Abdul Raheem was handed the role of presiding over the 20th People's Majlis with the votes of 71 out of 93 MPs. Hithadhoo Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Nazil, who competed against Abdul Raheem, won 14 votes. There were seven invalid votes. Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, who presided over the sitting, did not cast a ballot.
The governing PNC holds a supermajority of Parliament. While Abdul Raheem received 71 votes, there are 75 PNC MPs. The number rises to 79 with pro-government MPs.
The MPs-elect to be chosen for senior Majlis posts were nominated to PNC's parliamentary group by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The group decided yesterday to elect the MPs proposed by the President.
PNC decided to elect Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim as Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Nazim, who also represented the Dhiggaru constituency in the 17th and 18th Parliaments, previously served as Deputy Speaker of the 18th Parliament.
In contrast to Abdul Raheem, Nazim was elected with 80 votes. His contender, Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), won 12 votes.
Abdul Raheem began his political career in the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). He joined the party when it was formed by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during his government in 2005. He then left to join the People's Alliance (PA) with former President Abdulla Yameen.
Abdul Raheem also represented the Fonadhoo constituency in the 17th and 18th Parliaments. After winning election to the 17th Majlis on a PA ticket, he joined the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) upon its formation in 2011. He was elected to the 18th Majlis on a PPM ticket.
After failing to win re-election to the 19th Majlis, Abdul Raheem focused on strengthening the PPM-PNC's political activities. Abdul Raheem worked as the acting leader of the coalition after the jailing of its leader, former President Yameen. At the time, Abdul Raheem was the President of PNC.
He was among the leaders who favoured fielding a candidate from the coalition to win last year's presidential election. Abdul Raheem is one of the most influential politicians in the current government. He is President Muizzu's closest confidant. Abdul Raheem played a major role in preventing the breakup of the coalition amid disagreements over the presidential candidate.
