Parliament accepts amendments regarding allowances to former MPs

The parliament has accepted the amendment proposed to the Parliament Privileges and Powers Act, to remove the section regarding the provision of allowances to former Members of Parliament.

This amendment to Article 8 of the Act was submitted to parliament by Galolhu North MP Eva Abdullah.

Presenting the amendment in parliament today, Eva said that people who no longer act as MPs should not be provided those allowances, and that former MPs should instead be given security and protection.

Article 8 (a) of the Parliament Privileges Act states that former MPs who served one term should be given 30 percent of an MP’s salary as financial allowance. Article 8 (b) states that former MPs who served two terms should be given 45 percent of an MP’s salary as financial allowance.

The Act further states that former MPs should be given the same the allowances, protection and health insurance as sitting MPs, and also official passports the same as sitting MPs.

At today’s parliament sitting, it was also proposed to remove articles 9 and 10 of the Parliament Privileges Act. This was proposed by Nilandhoo MP Ali Riza.

Articles 9 and 10 are regarding the financial allowances to former parliament speakers and deputy speakers.

A parliament speaker or deputy speaker who served one term should be given 30 percent of his salary, while a parliament speaker or deputy speaker who served two terms should be given 45 percent of his salary.

All MPs who participated in the debate supported the amendments, and said that they only want security and protection and not financial allowances.

The amendment proposed by Eva was accepted by 46 votes in favour, while the amendment proposed by Ali Riza was accepted by 41 votes in favour at today’s sitting. The bill has now been sent to the National Security Committee for assessment.