"With supplementary budget’s passing, 2024 will see highest gov’t expenditure to date"

With the passage of the supplementary budget, this year will mark the highest government expenditure in the Maldives to date.

This was revealed by MP for Hanimaadhoo constituency, Abdul Ghafoor Moosa.

The lawmaker stressed that the public is extremely concerned about the government's failure to explain how the largest budget in Maldivian history was exhausted.

Highlighting that this year’s budget was substantial, the lawmaker stressed that it remains unclear how the budget was depleted without implementing any projects.

Further, the lawmaker added that the government should be held accountable to the public for this and noted that the reason for the budget shortfall should be very clear.

Ghafoor added that there are aspects to consider regarding the supplementary budget being proposed due to the shortfall in this year's budget.

While Ghafoor spoke about the government’s debts, ruling-party parliamentarians raised points of order to respond.

When Ghafoor highlighted that part of the salaries of parliament members and judges would be cut to pay for the increased salaries of government political appointees, parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla responded by saying that the salaries of parliamentarians and judges have not been reduced.

However, he stated that they would be asked to consider reducing their salaries.

A supplementary budget of MVR 5.1 billion was submitted to the People’s Majlis, with the current administration claiming that it was to cover state expenses. This was done after the government failed to proceed with major projects, halted PSIP projects, and failed to disclose how the 2024 state budget was spent.

The supplementary budget adds up to MVR 5,119,508,129.

During Thursday’s parliament sitting, Minister of Finance Moosa Zameer presented the budget to include MVR 1.5 billion as recurrent expenditure; MVR 24.4 million earmarked for salaries, MVR 200 million for medical supplies, MVR 262.6 million for medical aid, and MVR one billion for subsidies.

The budget includes MVR 3.6 billion as capital expenditure; MVR two billion for land reclamation, construction, and infrastructure, MVR 441 million for capital contribution, MVR 650 million for contingency, and MVR 458.4 million for student loans.

The deficit of the supplementary budget is MVR four billion.

This means that this year's total budget deficit is MVR 18 billion.

Thursday’s parliamentary sitting continued until the supplementary budget debate concluded.

To speed up passing the supplementary budget, it was decided to conclude the debate during Thursday's sitting, send it to the Budget Review Committee, and complete the committee's work within a day.