President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday signed legislature aimed at scrapping the monthly MVR 175,000 monthly allowance paid out of the state budget to former presidents to cover their office expenses.
An MVR 175,000 allowance to run their offices was just part of a financial perks package for former presidents introduced back in 2009.
In November, the government submitted a bill, sponsored by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, to amend the provisions in the Constitution that dictate financial perks to former presidents.
The bill was passed by the Parliament last week with a unanimous vote of 68, including from opposition lawmakers.
It was ratified by President Muizzu on Saturday morning.
The legislature scraps the MVR 175,000 monthly allowance for office expenses, and bars former presidents from receiving the financial perks during the time they may be serving a second term as president or holding another state role.
It also stipulates that former presidents will not be entitled to security by the state if they reside abroad.
While the legislature downsizes the financial package to former presidents, it introduces perks for former vice presidents. As such, it introduces a monthly allowance of MVR 30,000 for former vice presidents as well as coverage for medical expenses both in Maldives and abroad.
However, they, too, will not receive the financial perks during the time they may be serving another state role.
The new amendments also introduce a provision empowers the government to make changes to allowances for former presidents and vice presidents without parliamentary oversight in situations where spending is deemed necessary amid economic crises.
President Muizzu had announced plans to cut financial perks to former presidents as well as former parliamentarians back in September.
Allowances for former presidents were introduced in 2009. Presidents 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 another MVR 175,000 to cover office expenses – the latter of which has now been scrapped.
Many have criticized this as wastage.