While a number of lawmakers aligned with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have expressed interest in being parliament speaker, the party said that they will be given adequate time to prepare and lobby for the post.

Five lawmakers from the main ruling party, out of the 65 elected in April’s parliamentary election, have expressed interest in the post, and the party will decide on a speaker through an internal vote.

Highlighting that a number of its members have expressed interest, MDP’s chairperson Hassan Latheef- who won the West-Henveiru constituency seat- said opportunity to contest in the party’s internal vote will be opened with sufficient time to lobby.

The same will be done with the other posts within the parliamentary group, added Latheef.

MDP MPs that have expressed interest in being parliament speaker are; Central-Henveiru constituency MP Ali Azim, North-Hithadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Aslam, Maradhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Shareef, Vilufushi constituency MP Hassan Afeef, with Addu-Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam; the only woman to have expressed interest in the post.

The party’s leader, Mohamed Nasheed has indicated his support for Aslam, naming him as “someone qualified” to be speaker shortly after the election.

The main ruling party’s parliamentary group is in disagreement, on the procedures in electing a speaker and deputy. Given that a number of its MPs have expressed interest in the post, some of them believe that it should be decided through “a secret vote,” while others argue that MDP has always been transparent in such matters.