New parliamentary assembly to be sworn in on May 28th

Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam states it has been decided that the new members elected to the parliament in Sunday’s election will be sworn in on May 28^th.

Main ruling PNC secured supermajority in the incoming 20^th parliamentary assembly comprising of 93 lawmakers.

In the first parliamentary sitting held since the election on Tuesday morning, Speaker Aslam congratulated all new members elected to the parliament. He added that they will be sworn in on May 28^th.

The parliament is undertaking preparations for the inauguration ceremony.

Notably, main opposition MDP, which held the majority in the outgoing 19^th parliamentary assembly, only secured 12 seats in Sunday’s election.

Speaker Aslam, who has served four consecutive terms in the parliament, had failed to defend his seat.

A significant number of members in the outgoing parliamentary assembly had not contested in Sunday’s election. Only 11 members in the 19^th parliamentary assembly defended their seats in Sunday’s election. They are:

• Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam
• South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem
• Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo)
• Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh (Fittey)
• Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem (Red Wave)
• Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem
• Mathiveri MP Hassan Zareer
• Maamgili MP Qasim Ibrahim
• Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq 
• Dhangethi MP Mohamed Nazim
• South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil

The electoral term of the outgoing parliamentary assembly is scheduled to expire on May 15^th although the new parliamentary assembly is scheduled to be sworn-in on May 28th. Barring any other decision on the matter, the last sitting of the outgoing parliamentary assembly will be held on May 13^th.