The number politically appointed employees at government offices rose to 690 under President Abdulla Yameen’s tenure, amounting to an expense of over MVR 266 million, the proposed state budget reveals.

The Finance Ministry’s proposed budget for 2019 allocates a total of MVR 266.6 million to sustain these positions. In contrast, the total amount allocated for paying parliamentarians and local government councils is MVR 195 million.

The budget reveals that most politically appointed employees are at the Health Ministry, with a total of 96 such employees. Second is to the Foreign Ministry, with 82 such employees and third is to the Youth Ministry, with 48 employees.

Payment for these positions have been included in the proposed state budget for 2019, which is in review at the People’s Majlis, Maldives’ unicameral parliament.