Shahid resigns as Shahudhy rejoins JP

Henveiru North MP Abdulla Shahid announced Wednesday his intention to resign from parliament as Hanimaadhoo MP Hussain Shahudhy rejoined the Jumhooree Party.

Shahid, a former speaker and foreign minister, told the press that Wednesday’s sitting was his last as a member of parliament after 25 years.

He is expected to join president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s cabinet as foreign minister. “I will remain in any post given by President Solih,” he told reporters.

MP Shahudhy signed the JP membership form after a meeting with the party’s leadership Wednesday evening.

The MP for Haa Dhaal Hanimadhoo switched to the Progressive Party of Maldives from its former coalition partner JP in January 2016. He was among several PPM MPs who left the ruling party in July last year after backing the opposition’s bid to impeach the speaker.

Shahudhy was deemed to have lost his seat along with other defectors from the ruling party. The dozen lawmakers regained their seats in October after more than a year.

Shahudhy’s return takes the number of JP MPs up to eight. However, it will be back down to seven after the resignation of vice president-elect Faisal Naseem as MP for Kashidhoo.

The Maldivian Democratic Party’s numbers were meanwhile bolstered by the signing of Independent MP Ahmed Mahloof earlier this week.

The incoming ruling party will also lose one MP with the resignation of president-elect Solih, MP for Hinnavaru and the party’s parliamentary group leader, who is due to take the oath of office on Saturday.

Mahloof, the joint opposition spokesman, was elected on a PPM ticket but was expelled for “defaming” President Abdulla Yameen.

Little surprise. I’m officially kula yellow. Looking forward to work closely with President-elect Hon. @ibusolih & President @MohamedNasheed. Very happy to be part of MDP family. 💛@MDPSecretariat #HithaaHithugeGulhumeh #JazeeraRaajje pic.twitter.com/fUgMfPFMRw

— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) November 12, 2018