The Parliament has decided against approving three out of the 22 ministers nominated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his Cabinet.
The votes on ministerial approval took place separately during an extraordinary parliamentary session held today.
Ministers who were given the green light are:
Minister of Defense Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon - For 71 | Against 0
Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer - For 70 | Against 0
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan - For 68 | Against 1
Minister of Finance Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq - For 70 | Against 0
Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu - For 55 | Against 9
Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Khaleel - For 69 | Against 0
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed - For 37 | Against 32
Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam - For 69 | Against 0
Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal - For 57 | Against 2
Minister of Social and Family Development Dr. Aishath Shiham - For 69 | Against 0
Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu - For 70 | Against 0
Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy Thorig Ibrahim - For 69 | Against 0
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen - For 67 | Against 1
Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Adam Naseer Ibrahim - For 63 | Against 0
Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development Dr. Maryam Maria - For 66 | Against 1
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Abdullah Muthalib - For 70 | Against 0
Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare Aishath Rameela - For 70 | Against 0
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts Ibrahim Waheed - For 68 | Against 0
Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar - For 70 | Against 0
Meanwhile, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Minister of Housing, Land, and Urban Development Ali Haidhar Ahmed did not secure the necessary votes for approval, facing resistance from members representing the opposing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats.
The president sent the names of cabinet ministers for Parliament approval on November 20. Although the matter was put on the agenda for the parliament session held December 18, the vote was delayed citing that the parliament had not received the mandates of newly formed ministries. The parliament's government oversight committee reviewed the matter twice and concluded that the cabinet must be approved.
An extraordinary parliament session was held on Sunday to approve the cabinet. However, the session was obstructed by pro-government members in protest of opposing MDP and The Democrats' decision not to approve certain ministers. Although the parliament was scheduled to vote on the ministers' approval at 1:30 pm yesterday, the ruling PNC-PPM members took an unconventional approach by locking the chamber doors, barring entry for Democrats and MDP members. Chaos ensued within the Parliament, leading to physical altercations which resulted in one MP being hospitalized.
Despite the disruptions, the session was resumed to vote on the approval of the ministers. However, it could not be carried forward under the circumstances and the Speaker ended the session, and a second session was held at 1:00 pm today.
The ruling Progressive Congress (PNC) described the parliament's refusal to approve the members of the Cabinet formed to implement the policies of a government as an obstacle to the government's efforts for the benefit of the people.
