Parliament votes unanimously to scrap MVR 175K office allowance to ex-presidents

The Maldivian Parliament on Monday voted unanimously to scrap the monthly MVR 175,000 monthly allowance paid out of the state budget to former presidents to cover their office expenses.

An MVR 175,000 allowance to run their offices is just part of financial perks for former presidents introduced back in 2009.

Last week, the government submitted a bill, sponsored by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, to amend the provisions in the Constitution that dictate financial perks to former presidents.

The bill is designed to scrap the MVR 175,000 monthly allowance for office expenses, and bar former presidents from receiving the financial perks during the time they may be serving a second term as president or holding another state role.

It also stipulates that former presidents will not be entitled to security by the state if they reside abroad.

While the bill downsizes the financial package to former presidents, it introduces perks for former vice presidents. As such, it introduces a monthly allowance of MVR 30,000 for former vice presidents as well as coverage for medical expenses both in Maldives and abroad.

However, they, too, will not receive the financial perks during the time they may be serving another state role.

The bill passed the floor vote on Monday morning with bipartisan support.

The legislature received a unanimous vote of 68, including from members of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The bill also introduces a provision empowers the government to make changes to allowances for former presidents and vice presidents without parliamentary oversight in situations where spending is deemed necessary amid economic crises.

On September 10, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced plans to cut financial perks to former presidents as well as former parliamentarians.

Allowances for former presidents were introduced in 2009. Presidents who served a single term get a monthly allowance of 50,000, while those who served two receive MVR 75,000. They also receive MVR 50,000 as a living allowance, and another MVR 175,000 to cover office expenses.

Many have criticized this as wastage.