Maldives elects only three out of 43 women to parliament
Sauda, who won the Nilandhoo constituency, won the ticket without a primary. She is President D Mohammed Muizzu’s sister.
By
Aminath Shifleen
Three government-backed women candidates have been elected in the Parliamentary elections from the 43 that contested.
The 43 contestants are from:
-
Two PNC candidates
-
Six MDP candidates
-
37 candidates from other parties and independently
Three government-backed candidates won the election. They are:
-
Asma Rasheed, who contested the Maafannu Central constituency
-
Fathimath Sauda, who contested the Nilandhoo constituency
-
Dr Anaara Naeem, who contested the Huraa constituency as an independent candidate
Asma, who previously held the Maafannu Central constituency, is the only woman to win the PNC primary. She is the mother of Mohammed Hussain Shareef, who was appointed by the government as the Maldivian Ambassador to the UAE.
Sauda, who won the Nilandhoo constituency, won the ticket without a primary. She is President D Mohammed Muizzu’s sister.
Anaara, who was formerly a member of the Makunudhoo constituency, first contested the Huraa constituency as a PNC candidate. But after losing the primary, she then ran as an independent. However, she soon garnered the support of top government officials and later campaigned as a government candidate.
Five women contested from the MDP. They are:
-
Jeehan Mahmood for Hinnavaru Constituency
-
Rugiyya Mohammed for Dhangethi constituency
-
Zifleena Hassan for Thinadhoo South Constituency
-
Nazra Naseem for Fuvahmulaku South Constituency
-
Ifham Hussain for Maafannu North Constituency
-
Saffath Ahmed Zahir for Hulhumale Central Constituency
In the 19th parliament there are currently five women. Some of them contested the election but did not win.
