Ex-presidents lose office allowance; ex-VPs gain benefit

President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday ratified an amendment granting an allowance to Vice Presidents who have completed a five-year term while removing the MVR 175,000 monthly office-running allowance previously paid to former presidents.

Parliament passed the amendment on Monday.

The amendment to the Protection and Privileges of Former Presidents Act was proposed by PNC Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader and Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid on behalf of the government.

Under the previous law, former presidents who served less than two terms received MVR 275,000 per month, consisting of:

Former presidents who served more than one term are entitled to a financial allowance of MVR 75,000. This applied only to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

The amendment repeals the provision granting MVR 175,000 for office-running expenses.

The law previously did not specify any allowances for individuals who had served as Vice President. The amendment introduces:

The amendment defines a “person who has served as Vice President” as someone who has held the post for a full five-year term as specified in the Constitution.

Six Vice Presidents have served under the current Constitution, but only former Vice President Faisal Naseem completed a full term. He is therefore the only individual eligible for the new allowance.

The amendment also changes the rule allowing former presidents to continue receiving benefits while holding public office. Under the revised law, former presidents cannot receive allowances during any period in which they occupy a public position.