List of vice presidents of the Maldives

The vice president of the Maldives is the second highest official in the executive branch of the government of the Maldives, after the president, and is first in the presidential line of succession. The office of the vice president has been pivotal in maintaining governmental continuity, stepping in during the president's absence or incapacity. As outlined in Article 112 of the Constitution of the Maldives, the vice president is tasked with supporting the president in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. If the office of president becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or removal from office, the vice president will succeed to the presidency.

In accordance with Article 107(b) of the Constitution, if the vice president assumes the presidency due to a vacancy, this will only count as a full presidential term if there are at least two years remaining in the original term.[1] If the president is temporarily unable to perform the duties of office, he must inform the Speaker of the People's Majlis in writing and transfer responsibilities to the vice president.[2] The president can resume office after informing the Speaker in writing. If the president cannot provide this notification due to incapacity, the vice president, with the approval of a cabinet majority, will take over the responsibilities.[3] The vice president will assume the duties until the president is able to return and inform the Speaker in writing.[3]

Following the establishment of the first republic, Ibrahim Muhammad Didi was appointed vice president through the 1952 referendum. However, the republic did not last long when the regime of Mohamed Amin Didi was overthrown by the people of Malé. Following the overthrow of the presidency of Amin, vice president Ibrahim Muhammad Didi succeeded to the presidency as acting president. After 6 months, the republic was abolished and restored to a monarchy. As stated in the Article 45 of the second republic's 1968 Constitution, the president had the authority to appoint multiple vice presidents.[4] President Ibrahim Nasir appointed five vice presidents; Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi, Ahmed Hilmy Didi, Ibrahim Shihab, Ali Maniku and Hassan Zareer.[5] However, when Nasir resigned and left the Maldives in 1978, none of them were in the post, all of them had been given other positions. In the 2008 presidential election, held under the 2008 constitution, the Maldives elected its first democratically and directly elected president and vice president, with Mohamed Waheed Hassan assuming the role of vice president.[6] On 7 February 2012, following the resignation of president Mohamed Nasheed, vice president Waheed assumed office of president, and appointed Mohamed Waheed Deen as his vice president.[7]

In 2015, Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, then Vice President of the Maldives, was impeached following a no-confidence motion submitted by the ruling party. The motion accused him of attempting an illegal coup to seize the presidency.[8] As a result, Ahmed Adeeb was appointed as Vice President in accordance with the constitution. However, Adeeb was also removed from office by a no-confidence vote from the People's Majlis, which alleged his involvement in a plot to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen in order to assume the presidency.[9][10] Abdulla Jihad was then appointed as Vice President and served until the end of Yameen's presidential term. Faisal Naseem, serving under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from 2018 to 2023, became the only Vice President to complete a full term and holds the record as the longest-serving Vice President.

The incumbent vice president is Hussain Mohamed Latheef, who assumed office on 17 November 2023.[11]

Vice Presidents

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Party Time in Office President
Took Office Left Office
1 Ibrahim Muhammad Didi

(1902–1981)
[12]

RMP 1 January 1953 21 August 1953[a] Mohamed Amin Didi
2 Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi

(1936–2015)
[13]

IND 10 March 1975[b] 5 January 1977 Ibrahim Nasir
3 Ahmed Hilmy Didi

(1917–1983)
[14]

27 March 1975[c] 6 January 1977
4 Ibrahim Shihab

(1922–1988)
[14]

12 March 1975[d] 6 January 1977
5 Ali Maniku

(1935–2015)
[14]

16 July 1975[e] 14 January 1977
6 Hassan Zareer

(1935–2001)
[15]

7 June 1976[f] 6 January 1977
7 Mohamed Waheed Hassan

(b. 1953)
[16]

GIP 11 November 2008 7 February 2012[g] Mohamed Nasheed
8 Mohamed Waheed Deen

(b. 1947)
[18]

IND 25 April 2012 10 November 2013 Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik
9 Mohamed Jameel Ahmed

(b. 1969)
[19]

PPM 17 November 2013 22 July 2015[h] Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom
10 Ahmed Adeeb

(b. 1982)
[21]

PPM 22 July 2015 5 November 2015[i]
11 Abdulla Jihad

(b. 1964)
[23]

PPM 22 June 2016 17 November 2018
12 Faisal Naseem

(b. 1973)
[24]

JP 17 November 2018 17 November 2023 Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
13 Hussain Mohamed Latheef

(b. 1982)
[25]

PNC 17 November 2023 Incumbent Mohamed Muizzu

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Acting President after the death and banishment of Mohamed Amin Didi
  2. ^ Ibrahim Nasir had five Vice Presidents
  3. ^ Ibrahim Nasir had five Vice Presidents
  4. ^ Ibrahim Nasir had five Vice Presidents
  5. ^ Ibrahim Nasir had five Vice Presidents
  6. ^ Ibrahim Nasir had five Vice Presidents
  7. ^ Waheed became president after the mass protests which caused Mohamed Nasheed to resign.[17]
  8. ^ Impeached by the People's Majlis after No confidence motion was filed against him.[20]
  9. ^ Impeached by People's Majlis (Maldivian parliament) after No confidence motion was filed against him.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyage Qaanoon Asaasee" [Constitution of the Republic of Maldives] (PDF). People's Majlis. 2008. p. 51. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "The President temporarily transfers power to the Vice President". The President's Office. February 25, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Constitution of the Republic of Maldives" (PDF). Attorney General's Office. p. 43. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Constituion 1968" (PDF). Gaanoon.com. November 11, 1968. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "ނައިބު ރައީސް ކަމުގައި ސިއްކަ ޖެހުމުގެ ވަގުތު" [Stamping time for Vice President]. Sun (in Divehi). March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  6. ^ Alok Kumar Gupta. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN MALDIVES. Indian Political Science Association. JSTOR 26534945.
  7. ^ "VP Sworn in as President of the Maldives". Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations. February 7, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ex-Vp Dr Jameel takes impeachment case to Supreme Court". The Edition. April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Maldives crisis: Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb removed from power". BBC News. November 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Steve, Herman (October 12, 2015). "Assassination Attempt Throws Maldives Into Political Controversy". Voice of America. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  11. ^ "Dr Mohamed Muizzu sworn in as the 8th President of the Maldives". The President's Office. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Hakeem - Yesterday Chapter 8 - Truth is Bitter - Ibrahim Didi did not give Ameen Didi to the mob". Maldives Culture. 1997. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011.
  13. ^ "State Dignitary Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi passes away; National Flag to be flown at half-mast". The President's Office. November 27, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "CHIEFS OF STATE AND CABINET MEMBERS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency - US. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  15. ^ Asia Yearbook. Review Publishing Company. 1978.[page needed]
  16. ^ "Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed resigns amid unrest". BBC News. Malé, Maldives. February 7, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2024. Vice-President Waheed Hassan was sworn in vowing to uphold the "rule of law".
  18. ^ "Vice President Mohamed Waheeduddeen". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  19. ^ "Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Muhsin, Mohamed Fathith Abdul (February 15, 2021). "Was removed from office without being allowed a proper defense: Dr Jameel". The Times of Addu. Malé, Maldives. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  22. ^ "Maldives parliament impeaches Vice President". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. November 5, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "Vice President Abdulla Jihad". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Vice President Faisal Naseem". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef". The President's Office. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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