The parliament on Wednesday rejected the bill granting benefits to former vice-presidents.
Although the bill submitted by Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem was previously approved by the 18th Parliament, the bill was not ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and was returned to the parliament.
A vote was taken during Wednesday's parliamentary sitting of the new parliament, where 74 out of the 80 present members voted against the bill. While two members voted for the approval of the bill, four members remained neutral.
Members representing main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spoke against the bill both during the previous and the present parliament. However, minority members from PPM and PNC insisted on the approval of the bill.
The bill proposed to grant a monthly allowance of MVR 35,000 to former vice presidents in addition to providing security services.
While five former vice presidents are currently alive, VP Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Mohamed Waheeduddin, Ahmed Adeeb, Dr. Abdulla Jihad and the former VP who went on to become president, Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik would have qualified to receive the benefits had the bill been approved.
