Eva Abdulla

Former deputy speaker at parliament Maldives
Eva Abdulla
އީވާ ޢަބްދުﷲ
Eva in 2019
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
In office
28 May 2019 – 3 December 2023
SpeakerMohamed Aslam
Preceded byMoosa Manik
Succeeded byAhmed Saleem
Member of Parliament for Galolhu Uthuru
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 May 2009
Preceded byConstituency established
Personal details
Born (1978-02-08) 8 February 1978 (age 46)
Malé, Maldives
Political partyThe Democrats (2023-present)
Other political
affiliations
Maldivian Democratic Party (2008-2023)
RelationsMohamed Nasheed (cousin)
Alma materUniversity of Kent (BA)
University of Warwick (MA)

Eva Abdulla (Dhivehi: އީވާ ޢަބްދުﷲ; born 8 February 1978) is a Maldivian Politician who was the Deputy Speaker of the People's Majlis until resignation in 3rd of December 2023. She was a Member of Parliament.[1][2] She previously worked at the World Health Organization, the UNFPA, and was the Manager for the now-defunct local newspaper Minivan Daily.[3] She served as a parliamentarian for three consecutive terms since 2009 for the Galolhu Uthuru constituency[3][4] and was a longtime member of the Maldivian Democratic Party, up until she left the party in May 2023. She is now a member of The Democrats.

Eva was elected deputy speaker with a unanimous vote of 76 parliamentarians, making her the second woman to have ever been elected to the office. In 2019, she was the second woman to have presided over a parliament meeting as speaker, with the first being former Deputy Speaker Aneesa Ahmed in 2008.[5]

In 2023, she resigned as deputy speaker in the midst of a no-confidence motion being made against her by 50 parliamentarians. The motion was brought against her due to her withdrawal from the MDP in violation of an agreement that stated that she should remain an MDP candidate once elected on an MDP ticket.[6]

Education

Eva graduated from the University of Kent, holding a BA in Politics and Government and a MA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Warwick, England, United Kingdom.[3]

References

  1. ^ Afeef, Azeeza (3 December 2023). "މަޖިލީހުގެ ނައިބު ރައީސް ކަމުން އީވާ އިސްތިއުފާ ދެއްވައިފި" [Deputy Speaker of the Parliament resigns]. Vaguthu (in Divehi). Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  2. ^ Hassan, Nazim (21 April 2024). "ތިން ދައުރަށް ފަހު އީވާ އަށް ގޮނޑި ގެއްލިއްޖެ" [After three terms Eva loses her seat]. Mihaaru (in Divehi). Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Deputy Speaker of the Parliament - People's Majilis of Maldives". People's Majilis. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Cannot remain for long without registering 'The Democrats': Eva". One. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  5. ^ Jalyl, Raif Amyl (11 June 2019). "Deputy Speaker Eva chairs parliament, second woman to do so". The Edition. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  6. ^ Udhma, Fathimath (3 December 2023). "Eva resigns from post of Parliament Deputy Speaker". raajje.mv. Retrieved 2023-12-13.