Mohamed Shakeel, the former Registrar of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), has been appointed as the President of the Elections Commission (EC).
In addition to serving as the PNC Registrar, Shakeel has most recently held the position of Managing Director at the Maldives Hajj Corporation. He previously served as a member of the EC during the administration of President Abdulla Yameen.
The People’s Majlis approved Shakeel’s appointment to the EC yesterday. The motion passed with 51 members voting in favor, while eight members voted against the appointment.
The vacancy on the commission arose following the resignation of its former President, Mohamed Zahid, on May 1.
Prior to his resignation, former EC President Zahid reportedly faced pressure from the government. Much of this pressure was directed toward taking punitive action against opposition political parties. He also faced scrutiny following the government’s losses in the recent local council elections and the constitutional referendum.
