71 members vote to elect Abdul Raheem as Speaker of Parliament

The 20th Parliament, which began work today, has elected Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla as the Speaker of Parliament.

Abdul Raheem was elected as Speaker with the votes of 71 members out of 92 who participated in the vote during the sitting presided by Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam. Nazil received 14 votes, while 7 were invalid.

After the results were announced, the presiding member asked the parliamentary secretary general to destroy the ballot papers in the presence of the election committee members.

PNC PG Leader Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falaah moved the names of the members of the five-member ad hoc committee to count the secret ballot for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament under Article 82 of the Constitution. Falaah's names were supported by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau.

The committee, moved by Falaah, includes Feydhoo South MP Ibrahim Didi, Hanimadhoo MP Abdul Gafoor Moosa, Maamigili MP, Qasim Ibrahim, Maafannu North MP, Ahmed Nazim and Velidhoo MP Mohammed Abbas.