The Democrats has lost the minority position in the Parliament of the Maldives to the People’s National Congress.
The Congress Party became the minority party after 12 members of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) joined the Congress party last December. The Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has informed the Parliament of the change of party memberships.
The newly joined PNC members are:
• Feydhoo Constituency representative Mohamed Nihad
• South Mahchangolhi Constituency representative Ahmed Haitham
• Isdhoo Constituency representative Ali Hameed
• Kanditheemu Constituency representative Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem
• Kurendhoo Constituency representative Abdul Ghanee Abdul Hakeem
• Mathiveri Constituency representative Hassan Zareer
• Mulah Constituency representative Ibrahim Naseer
• Nilandhoo Constituency representative Abdul Muhsin Hameed
• South Maafannu Constituency representative Adam Ali
• Komandoo Constituency representative Mohamed Rasheed
• Thoddoo Constituency representative Hassan Shiyan
• Guraidhoo Constituency representative Ibrahim Shaz
Making the announcement, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Aslam said that with the change, the number of Congress Party members have risen to 14. He also said that the Parliament is currently comprised of 44 members of MDP, 13 members of The Democrats, two members of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), two members of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), two members of Jumhooree Party (JP) and three independent members.
With the change, Moosa Siraj, the Parliamentary Group leader of the Congress Party, has become the Minority Leader of Parliament. The allocation of debate times has been adjusted to accommodate the change in the number of members.