The government has been making several new appointments after creating a new political post close to the parliamentary elections, Adhadhu has learned.
The new post is called assistant political director with about MVR 15,000 as a monthly salary. The government has been hiring employees for the post as well, Adhadhu has learned.
Speaking to Adhadhu on the issue, President's Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel said posts are created based on a ministry's work.
However, Khaleel declined to directly comment on the creation of a new post called the assistant political director. He also did not reveal the date on which the post was created.
Adhadhu has learned that the government has been making appointments to the assistant political director since March with 11 assistant political directors appointed at the Sports Ministry so far.
Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu has confirmed this to Adhadhu. The assistant political directors will mainly work on island projects and most of them were hired as officials in charge of island youth centers, he said.
Assistant political directors have also been appointed to other ministries since last month, Adhadhu has learned.
President Muizzu had pledged that political posts in the government would not exceed 700. However, the President's Office has decided not to disclose details about the number of political appointees.
The parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place next Sunday. The Human Rights Commission and civil society organizations have said that government employees have been facing influence and intimidation over job security ahead of the elections.
The Elections Commission (EC) is looking into calls at a rally of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) to threaten the job security of Lhaviyani Felivaru workers for the purpose of controlling their votes.
