On Thursday, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem was appointed Chairman of the MVR 64.2 billion Budget Review Committee, with Fuvahmulah Central MP Ali Fazad named Vice-Chairman.
The appointments were unanimously approved by the committee, which Saleem also chairs in his capacity as head of the Public Accounts Committee. Fazad currently chairs the Economic Committee.
The nominations were proposed by Fonadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdooh Yoonus and seconded by Faresmathoda MP Ashraf Rasheed. No other names were put forward for either position.
At Thursday’s meeting, members agreed to continue the committee’s work without changes. As required by procedure, the committee has formally sought input from Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Ahmed Munawwar and Auditor General Hussain Niyazi.
According to the committee’s administrative desk, Munawwar will be available on the afternoon of November 15, while Niyazi is expected to be in Male' on Sunday, November 9, before leaving on an official trip from the 10th to 16th.
Opposition PG Leader Ibrahim Nazil (Hithadhoo South) stressed the importance of hearing from both officials before the budget debate begins. Saleem said he would collect their statements at noon on Sunday and present them to the committee as soon as possible.
From the Parliament's Budget Review Committee meeting on November 6, 2025. (Photo/Majlis)
The government has proposed a record MVR 64.2 billion budget for 2026, an increase of MVR 7.6 billion compared to this year’s MVR 56.6 billion budget. The rise is largely driven by debt repayments, with USD 1.1 billion earmarked for servicing debt next year alone.
Despite ambitious fiscal reform targets, the government has yet to implement the MVR 7.7 billion in savings outlined in this year’s budget. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that health will be the top priority in 2026, shifting focus from housing, which dominated this year’s budget.
However, only nine percent of the MVR 1.8 billion allocated for housing projects has been spent so far.