Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed
| Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed | |
|---|---|
| 11th Speaker of the People's Majlis | |
|
Assumed office 28 May 2014 | |
| President | Abdulla Yameen |
| Preceded by | Abdulla Shahid |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Progressive Party of Maldives |
| Alma mater |
Monash University University of Plymouth |
Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed (Dhivehi: ޢަބްދުﷲ މަސީޙް މުޙައްމަދު) commonly known as Maseeh, is the Speaker of the Maldives Parliament, named People's Majlis.[1] He was elected Speaker on 28 May 2014.[2] He continues to be the Speaker surviving four separate instances of no-confidence motion against him by the Opposition to oust him. The motions were defeated as per the Rules of Procedure of the People's Majlis [ Sun.mv Online, April 9, 2017], [ www.majlis.gov.mv/en/2017/07/24/news-release/].
Personal life and education
Maseeh was born in the island of Fuvahmulah to a prominent figure and a former Island Chief Mohamed Najeeb and Aminath Didi. Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed holds an MA in International Relations from Monash University, Australia, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Politics from the University of Plymouth, UK. He is married and has a son.
Work and political career
Maseeh began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982 and has been in the Public Service ever since. He is recognized as a formidable negotiator, campaigner and team builder. Maseeh contributed significantly to the democratic transition that has taken place in the Maldives in the last two decades, particularly as a member of the Special Majlis.[2] Maseeh worked at the President's Office as Deputy Minister from 2001.[2]
Maseeh was first elected to the Parliament in 2000 to represent his own island constituency of Fuahmulah in the Gnaviyani Atoll and was re-elected in 2005, 2009 and again in 2014.[2] Maseeh served from July 2004 to August 2008 in the Special Majlis that was mandated with the drafting of the 2008 Constitution for the Maldives. Maseeh is a member of the Progressive Party of the Maldives, PPM, currently the minority party in the Maldives.[2]
On August 22, 2017, Maseeh prevented a vote of no-confidence against himself from being held by abruptly terminating a parliamentary session before the vote could be held, with the help of the Maldives National Defence Force.[3][4][5]
References
- ↑ Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press. ISBN 1483371557. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed". majlis.gov.mv. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Holmes, Oliver (August 22, 2017). "Maldives army occupies parliament to block no-confidence vote". The Guardian.
A close ally of President Abdulla Yameen, Mohamed opened the session and then immediately closed it before MPs were able to vote on the no-confidence motion, she said.
- ↑ Kazmin, Amy (August 7, 2017). "Maldives set to restore death penalty as political crisis deepens". The Financial Times.
Last month, the military surrounded the parliament, or Majlis, and blocked lawmakers from entering to prevent a vote of no-confidence against Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, the Speaker who is a key presidential ally.
- ↑ Evans, Alison (August 24, 2017). "Maldivian army occupying parliament highlights increasingly authoritarian government leading to disruptive protests and licence revocations". Jane's Information Group.
The Maldivian military on 22 August occupied the People's Majlis parliament building, blocking opposition members from pursuing a no-confidence motion against the speaker, according to national media.