Maavashu MP Mohamed Saeed on Tuesday submitted a request for a formal inquiry into the supplementary budget proposed by the state.
The Maldives government proposed an annual budget of MVR 42.6 billion for 2023, with an additional MVR 5.8 billion to supplement the current fiscal year's budget.
The Speaker of the Parliament and Central-Machangoalhi MP Mohamed Nasheed confirmed receiving the request for an official inquiry into the government's proceedings of the supplementary budget. He said that the request has been forwarded to the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
"The Speaker of the Parliament also has the discretion to call for such an inquiry. But it is my opinion that a decision should be made after discussing the matter at the relevant parliamentary committee," Nasheed said.
The government's decision to propose a supplementary budget received polarising feedback. The members opposing the decision claim that the state cannot propose a supplementary budget along with the annual budget and that a supplementary budget should be submitted separately, a month prior to expenditure.
This view was challenged by Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, who said that the state had not exceeded the approved budget for 2022, which indicated that the supplementary budget was proposed ahead of the notice period.
Article 96 (c) of Maldives Constitution states "no supplementary expenditures shall be added to an approved budget without further approval by the People's Majilis".
Article 32 (e) notes that supplementary budget should be submitted for parliament approval, one month prior to the date of effective expenditure.
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