Parliament Postpones Approval Decision for Reappointed Ministers

Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Aslam made a decision today to delay parliamentary approval for three cabinet ministers until the Parliament determines its course of action regarding their reappointment, following their earlier rejection by the legislative body.

During the parliamentary session on January 29, lawmakers voted on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s 22-member cabinet, approving 19 ministers while rejecting three. 

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The ministers in question are Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Attorney General Ahmed Usham. Despite their rejection, the three were swiftly reappointed and sworn in shortly after the vote.

In the opening of today’s session, Aslam stated that the request for approval for the three ministers would not be scheduled until the Parliament had determined its response to the situation. Instead of considering the request for approval, the Parliament addressed a resolution presented by North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla, contending that the reappointment of the ministers was unlawful. Eva urged the government to adhere to the Parliament’s authority.

Aslam announced, “I have decided to postpone scheduling the request made by the President seeking parliamentary approval for the three ministers who were reappointed after they failed to receive approval until work on the aforementioned resolution is done.” 

He referenced a similar occurrence in 2010 when Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawad was reappointed as the attorney general following an initial failure to secure approval. Sawad was unable to pass the subsequent vote, prompting then-President Mohamed Nasheed to appoint another individual to the post.