Maldives ex-leader Nasheed tipped as new Speaker

AFP  |  Colombo 

The former has been nominated as the country's parliamentary and is set to be sworn in Tuesday, a said.

"He is unanimously chosen as the Speaker," a told AFP. "He will be sworn in at the inaugural session of the new parliament elected at the historic April vote."

Nasheed -- who until six months ago was still in exile -- has vowed to use his party's thumping mandate to usher in a new era of stability and democracy in the

The MDP's closest rivals, the and of the Maldives, both won five seats. Two minor parties and independents secured 12 seats among them.

The Maldives, a holiday destination popular with honeymooners, is only just emerging from years of strongman rule, political crises and corruption scandals miring the government and judiciary.

Nasheed's comprehensive victory was another rebuke for his rival Abdulla Yameen, who was dumped as in a shock election defeat in September under a cloud of corruption allegations.

Nasheed was barred from running in the but his former deputy, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, emerged triumphant over Yameen.

Nasheed returned to the in November after the quashed a terrorism conviction against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, May 28 2019. 00:45 IST