Parliament passes bill on allowing state spending on private residence of president

The bill on allowing state spending on the private residences of presidents, in the event that a president chooses not to live in the official residence, has been approved by parliament.

The bill was voted in favour by 35 MPs , and against by 15 MPs.

The bill, submitted by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, was accepted by parliament on 31 March with 30 votes in favour, 17 against, and one abstention.

The bill proposes four amendments to the law on salaries and privileges of presidents and vice presidents.

The law presently states that the state should spend only on the official residences of the president and vice president.

Presenting the bill to the parliament, Riyaz said that as long as the president does not live in the official residence, the state should provide staff and security at his private residence.

Riyaz said that the same budget assigned for the official residence should be used also for the private residence, and that this budget should not be used for any expenses other than providing staff and security.

Upon assuming office, President Yameen Abdul Gayoom announced that he will live at his private residence, G. Dhoovehi. He also said that he will only accept half of the salary of a president, that is, MVR 50,000 instead of MVR 100,000.