A budget of MVR 187 million has been allocated for administrative expenses of the People’s Majlis for the next year.
Discussions regarding the budget for 2024 were held during a meeting of the parliament’s general committee on Monday.
After the committee’s deliberations, the parliament decided that MVR 187 million would be spent to run the parliament next year.
Comparing expenses of this year to the estimated budget for 2024, the figure predicted for the upcoming year is higher than the expenditure for administrative purposes recorded in the concluding year.
During 2023, MVR 182 million was the allocated budget for the parliament.
Due to a delay in setting up the budget committee in the ongoing term, the parliament had earlier submitted the proposed budget to the Ministry of Finance as well.
The parliament had shared this information with the committee as well.
According to sources at the parliament, the increase in the budget for 2024 was due to the requirement to cover the expenses of the members who will be elected afresh for new constituencies in 2024.
The budget has been compiled in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, according to the parliament.
According to the People’s Majlis, the new parliament which begins in 2024 will have 93 seats. These include two constituencies added to Malé City. From 2024, capital city will have a total of 17 seats.
One seat each has been added to Baa atoll, Kaafu atoll, Gaaf Alif Atoll and Seenu Atoll as well.
The six seats added for 2024 are:
- Central Hulhumalé constituency
- North Hulhumalé constituency
- Hithaadhoo constituency (Baa atoll) Hithaadhoo, Maalhos and Dharavandhoo
- Huraa constituency (Kaafu atoll) Huraa, Himmafushi and Gulhi
- Kolamaafushi constituency (Gaaf Alif atoll) Kolamaafushi and Dhevvadhoo
- North Feydhoo constituency (Seenu atoll) Feydhoo and Maradhoo-Feydhoo.
The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that Eydhafushi, Villingili and Meedhoo constituencies will have only the one island belonging to the constituency, with these changes.
The report also notes that the names of some constituencies have been changed.
As such, Hulhumalé constituency will be known as South Hulhumalé constituency, Guraidhoo constituency will be known as Maafushi constituency, Thaa. Guraidhoo constituency will be known as Guraidhoo constituency and Feydhoo constituency will be known as South Feydhoo constituency.
