The approval of ministerial appointees has been sent back to committee over procedural violations in the committee's decision to send the appointees to the floor for a vote.
As the last sitting of the final session of the year started today, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP for Thulhaadhoo Hisaan Hussain raised a point of order and noted that the committee had not passed the report on the approval of ministers in line with Parliament's rules. Speaker Mohamed Aslam accepted the point of order and decided to consult with the Majority Leader and Minority Leader.
The report was sent back to the committee after the discussions.
In her point of order, Hisaan said the report compiled by the government oversight committee after reviewing the matter of approving ministerial appointees contravened section 200(d), (g) (h) and (i) of Parliament's standing orders.
The report could not be put to a vote as it failed to comply with the requirements of the provision, she said.
"Considering article 116(a) and article 200(h) of the constitution, the President must submit the areas of jurisdiction of the ministries that the government wants to establish to this Parliament for approval. Now 30 days since these ministries were established, as the mandates of the ministries have not been sent for approval, it is not clear from the report what responsibilities that we are approving the ministers to carry out, or whether or not they have the capability to do so," Hisaan said.
Speaker Mohamed Aslam, who was presiding, said he accepted the objection as a valid point of order.
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The administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who assumed office on November 17, has a total 22 ministries including the Attorney General's office.
Parliament is also required to approve any changes made to the mandate of ministries after they are established.
The President's Office has yet to comment on the failure to seek approval for the new mandates.
However, some officials with knowledge of the matter confirmed to Adhadhu that the government has not sent the mandates for parliamentary approval.
Today's sitting of parliament was the last sitting of the final session of the year. After breaking for recess, the new session of Parliament will begin in February next year.
