MDP's battle for speaker: PG to vote by show of hands
While the party won 65 seats from the 87-member People's Majlis, five of them have expressed interest in the highest position in parliament
Members of the 19th parliament attend the orientation programme on Sunday night
Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s vote to choose a speaker nominee will be taken with a show of hands.
While the party won 65 seats from the 87-member People's Majlis, five of them have expressed interest in the highest position in parliament. MDP will choose a nominee through a vote within the new parliamentary group.
The parliamentary group is to meet at 9:30pm on Monday, where they are to take this vote.
While there has been a disagreement over how the vote will be undertaken, a credible source informed RaajjeMV that they have decided on voting by show of hands.
According to the source, discussions were held within the parliamentary group on the matter as well, and 45 out of the 65 members had decided on this method.
This is the first time that MDP has been able to have a say in the speaker and deputy speaker posts, given that it had never won a majority in parliament before.
The main ruling party has been in a pickle since April’s parliamentary election, with five members expressing interest in being speaker. They are; Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam, North-Hithadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Aslam, Maradhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Shareef, Central-Henveiru constituency MP Ali Azim and Vilufushi constituency MP Hassan Afeef.
The toughest competition is between Aslam and Afeef.
MDP’s leader, former President Mohamed Nasheed has supported Aslam for speaker since the parliamentary election, and it was recently reported that incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is endorsing Afeef.
To add fuel to the fire, during a recent interview, the president noted that both Aslam and Afeef are “experienced parliamentarians” and that Afeef is “one of the most” capable persons for the position.
This has led to a dispute within MDP, with members seemingly taking sides on social media.
The newly elected MPs will take oath of office on Tuesday, and as per the constitution, the new lawmakers “shall at the first sitting after the general election elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker from its members by secret ballot.”
