The People’s Majlis has approved a monthly allowance of MVR 30,000 for individuals who have served as Vice Presidents, while also endorsing major cuts to state-funded expenses provided to former presidents.

The amendment to the Law on the Protection and Benefits for Persons who have Served as President of the Republic was submitted on behalf of the government by MP for Hulhudhoo constituency Mohamed Shahid. The bill sought to reduce the state budget burden for maintaining former presidents’ official offices and introduce a financial allowance for former Vice Presidents.

The proposal has slashed the MVR 175,000 granted monthly to former presidents for office operations. It also stipulated that if a former president is elected for a second term or assumes another state position, they would not receive these allowances during that period. In addition to this, the amendment stated that if a former president resides outside the Maldives, the state would not be obligated to provide security for them during that time.

Although the bill imposed significant changes to former presidents’ allowances, it initially proposed a monthly allowance of MVR 25,000 for former Vice Presidents, along with access to medical services both domestically and abroad. However, the amendment restricted eligibility to those who have completed a full five-year presidential term as defined in the Constitution. Under this criterion, the only individual currently eligible is Faisal Naseem, who served in the most recent MDP administration.

The People’s Majlis Public Accounts Committee reviewed the bill and introduced one change: amending sub-clause (1) of sub-article (a) of the new article proposed to be added after Article 8 of the existing law. The committee raised the proposed Vice Presidents’ allowance to MVR 30,000, passing the change unanimously during its meeting on Saturday.

The committee report was then presented to the Majlis floor and put to a vote during Monday’s sitting, where all 68 participating lawmakers voted in favor.

Under the current system, a former president who completed one term receives MVR 50,000 per month, while a two-term president receives MVR 75,000.

Former presidents are also granted an additional MVR 50,000 for accommodation and approximately MVR 175,000 in office operational expenses.