Speaker Aslam loses seat after 20 years in Parliament

Mohamed Aslam, the Speaker of Parliament and the incumbent North Hithadhoo MP, suffered defeat in Sunday’s elections, bringing an end to 20 years of service as a parliamentarian.

Preliminary results show the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which had ruled Addu City until now, lose many of the seats to the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

With 2,178 votes now counted, the results place PNC’s Mohamed Sinan on track to winning the seat with 821 votes. Aslam trails behind with 642 votes.

Aslam was elected as the Parliament’s Speaker in November 2023, after the then-Speaker, former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed resigned from the post in the face of a no-confidence vote.

He is one of the most seasoned members of the Parliament, having served at the legislative assembly since 2005.

He had also remained loyal to the MDP, even amid its recent internal troubles.