Maldives parliament on Tuesday approved president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's new ministerial cabinet.
A total of 19 cabinet ministers along with Solih's attorney general was approved unanimously by the parliament during Tuesday's sitting.
The new government had appointed the cabinet with each political party getting a percentage.
AVAS had reported earlier that 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 most surprising appointment was religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla as the country's new home minister.
Former foreign minister and speaker Abdulla Shahid was named as the country's new top diplomat.
New ministerial cabinet
- Foreign Affairs - Abdullah Shahid
- Defence - Uza. Mariya Ahmed Didi
- Home Affairs - Sheikh Imran Abdulla
- Finance - Ibrahim Ameer
- National Planning and Infrastructure – Mohamed Aslam
- Higher Education – Dr. Ibrahim Hassan
- Communication, Science and Technology – Mohamed Maleeh Jamal
- Health – Abdulla Ameen
- Education – Dr. Aishath Ali
- Transport and Civil Aviation – Aishath Nahula
- Arts Culture and Heritage – Yumna Maumoon
- Tourism – Ali Waheed
- Economic Development – Uz. Fayyaz Ismail
- Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture – Zaha Waheed
- Islamic Affairs – Dr. Ahmed Zahir
- Housing and Urban Development– Aminath Athifa
- Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment – Ahmed Mahloof
- Gender, Family and Social Services - Sidhatha Shareef
- Environment – Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan
- Attorney General – Uz. Ibrahim Riff’ath
As many as four opposition lawmakers including Shahid had resigned prior to the ceremony to take up ministerial portfolios. Outspoken lawmaker Ahmed Mahloof who had recently signed for MDP was appointed as the youth and sports minister while Solih's spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi became the country's first female defence minister.
Former president Gayoom's daughter Yumna Maumoon was appointed as the new arts, culture and heritage minister.
The other notable appointee was Gasim's youngest spouse Aishath Nahula as the civil aviation and transport minister.
