Veteran Lawmaker Ahmed Saleem Elected Deputy Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament

Ahmed Saleem, the Member of Parliament for Eydhafushi, has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament following a decisive victory in a secret ballot. Saleem secured the leadership position by garnering 62 votes, significantly outpacing his competitor, Hussain Ziyad, the member for Vaikaradhoo, who received 10 votes. Out of 74 participating members of the Majlis (the Maldivian Parliament), two ballots were declared invalid. Saleem's appointment makes him the second person to hold the deputy speaker's office during the current 20th parliamentary session. The vacancy was created following the abrupt resignation of Ahmed Nazim, the member for Dhiggaru. Nazim stepped down from the role just as the parliament had decided to move forward with a formal motion to remove him from the post. To ensure a transparent electoral process, the parliament established a dedicated five-member committee. This initiative was proposed by Ibrahim Falah, the member for Inguraidhoo, and received approval from 65 present members. The committee tasked with overseeing the proceedings included Husnee Mubarik, Ibrahim Shujau, Dr. Anara Naeem, Ibrahim Nazil, and Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru. Saleem is a seasoned legislator with extensive experience in the Maldivian political landscape. His tenure in parliament began in 2009, and he has consistently maintained his seat through subsequent elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024. He currently represents the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), bringing over a decade of legislative expertise to his new leadership role as Deputy Speaker.