Former President Mohamed Nasheed has expressed support for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to amend the law to reduce some of the benefits provided by the state to former presidents. The state is required by law to provide various benefits to those who have served as leaders in the country and members of the People’s Majlis. The government has decided to submit amendments to the People’s Majlis to revoke some of the benefits granted by law to those who have served as President of the Republic and members of the People’s Majlis.
Supporting this government decision, former President Mohamed Nasheed said that he supports reducing the amount of pension given to former presidents. “I also agree with reducing the amount of pension given to former presidents,” President Nasheed said in a post shared on social media. According to the law on protection and benefits to be given to a person who has served as President of the Republic, a person who has served one term as President must be given a financial benefit of 50,000 rufiyaa per month by the state. And for a person who has served more than one term, the state must provide 75,000 rufiyaa per month.
In addition, the law states that the state must provide up to 50,000 rufiyaa per month to cover all expenses for the residence of a person who has served as President. It also stipulates that the state must provide up to 175,000 rufiyaa per month to arrange an office, staff, and other necessities if a person who has served as President wishes to engage in socially beneficial community work.
These benefits granted by law to former presidents are funded annually from the state budget. As such, each president receives separate allowances for financial benefits, living allowance, office operations, and medical treatment. Consequently, 19.7 million rufiyaa has been included in this year’s estimated budget for former presidents’ benefits. This amount will continue continue to increase with each term. The current former presidents are Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President Abdulla Yameen, Mohamed Nasheed, and Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.
