New Maldives government on Tuesday confirmed that president elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is set to be sworn in later this week would lead with a 19 member ministerial cabinet.
Solih's spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi during a press conference on Tuesday, said the new government would establish four new ministries taking the total to 19 as opposed to the 15 of the incumbent government.
New ministries
- Ministry of Higher Education
- Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- Ministry of Science, Communication and Technology
Mariya said the decision to establish new ministries was to align with its efforts to deliver on the pledges made by Solih during his campaign and the coalition government's manifesto.
AVAS had earlier reported the coalition has already agreed the composition of the cabinet with each political party to get a percentage.
Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) would get 40 percent, with 25 percent business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim's Jumhoory Party (JP) and 20 percent for former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The other main party in the coalition, religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) would receive the smallest slice with 15 percent, the source detailed.
Mariya however refused to comment on percentage allocation for the four parties but insisted that despite a wide coalition, the new government would reduce political party posts by 16 percent.
Many across social networking sites have been calling on the new government to reveal the "deals" under which the coalition would function.
