Parliament today passed granting approval to Finance Minister Hassan Zareer.
Zareer was appointed as the Finance Minister last month following the resignation of Moosa Zameer, who filled the position since September 2024, due to health reasons.
The Government Oversight Committee evaluated the issue of granting approval to Zareer, and stated in its report presented to today's sitting of the Parliament that the committee unanimously passed that Zareer fulfills the criteria required for members of the cabinet.
The report was passed and the parliamentary floor voted to approve Zareer today with the unanimous consensus of the 49 members who participated in the vote taken for the matter during today's sitting.
However, no members of the opposition MDP participated in that vote. While some MDP members were named and escorted out of the chamber during the debate on the approval issue, other members walked out of the floor on their own.
Speaking during the debate, the MDP Member for Kendhoo constituency Mauroof Zakir, stated that approval cannot be granted to the Finance Minister, and that it is because employees are being dismissed based on political motives.
Parliamentary Group Leader of the ruling PNC, which holds a supermajority in the Parliament, and Member for Inguraidhoo constituency, Ibrahim Falah, stated that Zareer is a highly experienced and capable individual. He added that the dismissal of employees from certain state companies is being carried out within the regulations alongside the allowances that must be provided.
He also stated that the accusation made by MDP regarding the dismissal of employees based on political motives is a false accusation.
Zareer, who attained higher education in the field of finance and accounting, held the position of Commissioner General of Taxation until his appointment to the post. Prior to that, he had previously worked at the Ministry of Finance and the state tax authority MIRA. In that regard, he filled the position of Deputy Commissioner General of Taxation from 2010 to 2019. He also served as the Chief Public Accounts Executive of the Ministry of Finance from 2007 to 2010.
The first Finance Minister of this government was Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq. Along with changes brought to the cabinet, he resigned on September 30, 2024. Following that until today, the position was filled by Zameer.
