An amendment has been submitted to the Parliament on Thursday seeking to scrap MVR 175,000 in allowances to former presidents from the state budget to cover office expenses and introduce MVR 25,000 as allowance to former vice presidents.
The government-backed amendment is sponsored by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid.
The amendment seeks to scrap MVR 175,000 in allowances to former presidents from the state budget to cover office expenses and scrap all allowances to former presidents if they are elected for a second term or holding any other government posts following the conclusion of their presidential term.
The amendment also seeks to scrap the requirement to provide security services to former presidents if they are living abroad.
The amendment also proposes benefits for former vice presidents, including a monthly MVR 25,000 financial assistance allowance and state-funded medical care both domestically and overseas.
However, if former vice presidents are holding a government post following the conclusion of their term, they will not be eligible for the allowance for this duration.
Notably, former vice presidents are not entitled to any allowance under existing legislature.
The amendment also states allowances to former presidents and vice presidents can be revised under circumstances demanding reducing state expenditure in light of economic crises. The revisions do not require parliamentary approval.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced his decision to scale back allowances paid by the state to former Maldivian presidents and parliamentarians on September 10th.
Allowances for former presidents were introduced in 2009. President who served a single term get a monthly allowance of 50,000, while those who served two receive MVR 75,000. They also receive MVR 50,000 as a living allowance, and MVR 175,000 to cover office expenses.
Many have criticized this as wastage.