President Muizzu proposes law to cap political appointees and spending

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to introduce legislation that will define the number of political positions allowed and set a maximum budget for political appointments with both to be determined by Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office today, President Muizzu said the law would establish a clear framework for oversight and accountability in political appointments

“The purpose is to introduce a system of checks and balances when it comes to appointing and removing people from political positions,” he stated.

The rising number of political appointments has been a matter of public debate, with the current administration facing criticism for surpassing the previous government in terms of political posts.

In addition to this legislative reform, President Muizzu revealed a list of proposed constitutional and legal amendments, which include:

1. Synchronizing Elections: Holding presidential and parliamentary elections together.

2. Reforming Presidential Elections: Introducing a preferential voting system to eliminate the need for a second round.

3. Adjusting Presidential Term Start Date: Beginning the presidential term on November 11.

4. Capping Parliament Size: Fixing the number of parliament members at 93, the current total, to prevent future expansions.

5. Introducing Recall Votes: Empowering the public to remove elected officials through a recall vote.

6. Abolishing Atoll Councils: Proposing the dissolution of Atoll Councils as Island Councils alone are sufficient for managing the affairs of the island, President Muizzu said.

While the President did not provide a timeline for submitting the proposed constitutional amendments to Parliament, he said that 30 bills will be submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the government this year.