Legal issues in giving Nasheed presidential retirement benefits: PO Spokesperson

Abbas Adil Riza, Spokesperson of the President’s Office, has said that there are some legal issues in the in relation to giving former President Nasheed the presidential retirement benefits. Abbas said that the President’s Office would seek a legal advice from the Attorney General on the matter.

Speaking to the media today, Abbas said that the Act on Presidential Retirement Benefits and Privileges only covers in its ambit presidents who “have completed a term of five years”, and that giving those benefits to a president who has not completed that term needs further consideration.

Abbas confirmed that President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik had not yet asked for a legal advice from the Attorney General on the issue as of now.

“The President has not yet asked for advice from the AG. However, if we are to give Nasheed presidential retirement benefits, we would need AG’s opinion declaring it legal. We may have to even amend the law”, said Abbas.

Abbas also said that the matter was discussed over to some extent at Cabinet level, though unofficially.

When asked whether President Nasheed had filed a request for presidential retirement benefits, Abbas said that there were no such requests from him.

According to the Statute, a president who has completed a term of 5 years is entitled to a monthly salary of MRF 50,000, and one who has completed two terms are entitled to a salary of MRF 75,000. In addition to this salary, former presidents who have completed at least one term are also entitled to a living allowance of MRF 50,000.