Mahibadhoo Council faces impasse as six tries to elect a vice president fail

ADh. Mahibadhoo Council has reached an impasse after at least six attempts to elect a vice president ended in deadlocks.

Councilors elected for a new five-year term in April all took their oath of office on Sunday.

Councils are required by law to elect a vice president during the very first meeting.

But councilman Bunyameen Hassan told Sun on Monday that the Mahibadhoo Council has held votes to elect a vice president six times – all ending in a deadlock.

Three councilors are vying for vice presidency; Bunyameen, an independent, and Mohamed Maumoon from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) and Zaeema Mohamed from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

During the first attempt, Bunyameen received one vote, while PNC’s Maumoon and MDP’s Zaeema ties with two votes each.

“No one could get elected, right? No one got a majority,” he said.

Maumoon and Zaeema continued to tie with two votes each in the five subsequent attempts, with one vote getting ruled invalid.

A seventh attempt at electing a vice president is scheduled for 01:00 pm Monday.

The failure to elect a vice president hinders the council from fulfilling its legal responsibilities.