Eydhafushi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem has been elected as the new Deputy Speaker of Parliament following a vote held during Monday morning’s sitting.
Saleem secured a decisive victory, receiving 62 of the 72 valid votes cast by lawmakers. His challenger, Vaikaradhoo constituency MP Hussain Ziyad, obtained 10 votes.
The newly elected Deputy Speaker is currently serving his fourth consecutive term in Parliament. He first entered the legislature during the 17th People’s Majlis and has since remained an active member of the House.
The election was held following the resignation of former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, the MP for Dhiggaru constituency.
Nazim stepped down from the post as Parliament was preparing to proceed with a motion seeking his removal. His resignation was formally announced during Sunday’s parliamentary session.
Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla informed members that an additional sitting would be held to address the vacancy and elect a new Deputy Speaker.
The motion to remove Nazim was initially submitted to Parliament on 14 May. According to the Parliament Secretariat, all procedures related to the motion were being carried out in accordance with the Constitution and parliamentary rules.
In a public statement issued after his resignation, Nazim criticized the proceedings against him and rejected the allegations cited as grounds for his dismissal. He maintained that the claims were unfounded and expressed his disagreement with the process that led to the motion being tabled.
With Ahmed Saleem’s election, Parliament has now filled the vacancy in its leadership and restored the full composition of the Speaker’s office.
