Parliament has, on Monday, approved Ahmed Shareef, the Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation, as a member of the Election’s Commission.

While a total of 34 MPs took part in the vote, 33 voted in favor of his appointment. Thulhaadhoo constituency MP, Nazim Rashad had voted against it.

Opposition parliamentarians continue to boycott parliament sittings, as part of their protest against the ongoing state emergency, which was declared by the President after refusing to implement a Supreme Court ruling reinstating 12 opposition lawmakers.

Shareef was nominated by President Abdulla Yameen, and his name was submitted and accepted by parliament on Monday, sending it to the Committee on Independent Institutions for further review. The Committee approved it the same day.

He had previously worked as the secretary general of the Elections Commission and was also a member of President Yameen’s party, the People’s Alliance (PA).

While the Elections Commission consists of five members, a seat became vacant on the 31st of January, following the resignation of then commission President, Ahmed Sulaiman. Sulaiman has since been appointed to the National Integrity Commission, with President Yameen appointing him as the NIC’s President last Thursday.