Mandates of Ministries Sent to Parliament for Approval

The government has forwarded the mandates of the ministries to the Parliament for approval, today. 

The Parliament referred the matter back to the committee due to an incomplete report.

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The President’s Office issued a statement confirming the submission of the ministries and their respective areas of responsibility to Parliament. Despite this, no detailed information was provided in the statement.

Criticism has arisen from some government members who express dissatisfaction with the Parliament’s decision to refer the matter back to the committee. Pro-government MPs accuse the Speaker of Parliament of hesitating to make decisions on specific issues.

Attorney General Usham voiced concern about the delay in ministerial approvals, stating that it is regrettable that the Parliament seems to have deviated from its established rules for political reasons.

Usham emphasised the distinction between submitting ministry mandates under Article 116 of the Constitution and approving ministers under Article 129. He highlighted the historical parliamentary practice where ministerial approvals were swiftly granted following the submission of mandates.

The Attorney General drew attention to the timeline followed by the previous government, where ministerial approval was sought on November 22, granted in December, and mandates moved on December 13.

The issue of ministerial approval has now been sent back to the committee for further consideration. Notably, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds a significant majority in parliament, with the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives/People’s National Congress coalition having only four members.