Forty-seven employees have been appointed to political posts in the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy.
The appointees were made after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November last year.
Under the Right to Information Act, Adhadhu requested information on political employees in the ministry from November 17, 2023 to May 1, 2024. This information is also published on the ministry's website.
Number of political posts and monthly remuneration
- 1 Minister - MVR 58,500
- 8 State Ministers - MVR 43,500
- 13 Deputy Ministers - MVR 31,500
- 15 Senior Political Directors - MVR 25,500
- 10 Political Directors - MVR 20,500
According to the information, MVR 1,403,500 per month and 16,842,000 per year is spent from the state budget for the salaries of its political employees.
The amount will exceed MVR 84 million by the end of President Muizzu's five-year term.
According to the Environment Ministry website, a total of 27 political employees were appointed to the ministry during the former government of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The number of political posts in the ministry has increased by 42 percent after President Muizzu assumed office.
Muizzu promised not to appoint more than 700 political employees. However, the opposition accuses the government of creating a record number of political posts.
Some ministries have been responding to RTI requests and disclosing the number of political posts, but the total number cannot be confirmed as all the ministries have not been complying with the RTI requests.
