Abdul Raheem Elected Speaker as 20th Parliament Convenes

Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey) of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has been elected to be the Speaker of Parliament as the 20th session of the People’s Majlis commenced today.

Ahmed Nazim, the PNC MP for Dhiggaru, secured the position of Deputy Speaker.

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The MP-elects were sworn into office at a ceremony this morning.

The inaugural session of the Parliament kicked off with the selection of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker through a secret ballot among all attending members. As the longest-serving member of the session, Meedhoo MP and prominent businessman Ahmed Siyam Mohamed presided over the proceedings.

Abdul Raheem’s nomination was put forward by MP Ahmed Nazim and Nazim’s nomination was put forward by Abdul Raheem. Leader of Jumhooree Party and Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim endorsed the two PNC nominations.

Abdul Raheem secured the position of Speaker with a significant majority of 71 votes, while the MDP’s nominee, South Hithadhoo Ibrahim Nazil, received only 14 votes. Seven votes were deemed invalid.

Meanwhile, Nazim was elected Deputy Speaker with 80 votes, while the MDP’s nominee, Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi, received 12 votes.

Abdul Raheem previously served two terms as the Laamu Fonadhoo MP between 2009 and 2019. He has since become one of the most influential figures within the ruling coalition, holding positions such as special adviser to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and chairperson of the ruling party. His son, Faisal Ibrahim, also holds the position of Minister of Tourism.

Abdul Raheem and Nazim were among several members nominated for key positions within the PNC parliamentary group during a meeting led by President Mohamed Muizzu at Muleeaage last week.

Ibrahim Falah, the MP for Inguraidhoo, has been selected to lead the majority parliamentary group, while Hussain Ziyad, the MP for Vaikaradhoo, will lead the minority parliamentary group on behalf of the MDP.

The 20th Parliament was elected in April, with the ruling People’s National Congress securing a significant victory with 66 seats. This majority has been further reinforced as several independently elected members have since aligned themselves with the PNC.

As a result, the parliamentary composition is expected to include a supermajority for the PNC, with 75 seats. The opposition MDP holds 12 seats, while the remaining seats are distributed among two members of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and one each from the Jumhooree Party and the Maldives National Party (MNP).

Only two MPs elected as independents remain independent.