Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid elected 76th UNGA president
The UNGA president's post is held on an annual basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings. The Maldives has been elected to the office for the first time.
FollowMaldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid was on Monday elected as the president of the 76th United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming majority.
It is a post held on an annual basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings.
The 76th session (2021-22) gave the Asia-Pacific group an opportunity to have one of its representatives to be elected as UNGA president. The Maldives has been elected to the office for the first time.
The Maldives had announced Foreign Minister Shahid's candidature in December 2018.
FM Shahid comes with vast diplomatic experience and strong credentials, especially in the multilateral fora. India had backed Shahid's candidature back in November 2020.
In mid-January 2021, less than six months before the elections, Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul entered the fray.
Sources said that even though Rassoul also had strong credentials, Shahid had gained extensive support by the time the former announced his candidature.
Afghanistan has held this position during the 21st General Assembly session in 1966-67.
Sources said India voted in favour of Maldives as it had already committed its support to Shahid at a time when no other candidate was in the fray.
The General Assembly president's office is the highest office in the UN ecosystem and is a reflection of the collective goodwill of the global body's 193 Member States.
