Yameen: No country provides grants to judiciary, don’t destroy the system with ignorance

No country in the world provides block grants to its judiciary, said former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday, as he criticized President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, telling him to avoid destroying the existing system if he “doesn’t know how to get anything done.”

The remarks come after President Muizzu announced the decision to introduce a black grant for the judiciary starting 2026 – a move he said was designed to ascertain judicial independence.

In a townhall meeting held by Yameen’s People’s National Front (PNF) on Thursday night, the former Maldivian leader criticized this decision, saying that providing grants to the judiciary isn’t something that is practiced anywhere in the world.

He also criticized the move by the Supreme Court to publicly welcome the decision and say it would speed up justice.

Yameen said the introduction of block grants will not make the judiciary more independent, but more corrupt.

“Now, these so-called judicial experts, prosecutors and such, they are calling this the biggest step ever to free the judiciary or free it from corruption,” said Yameen. “No. I don’t believe so. The salaries and allowance for the judiciary are written in the budget, anywhere in the world. It’s not something that Muizzu gives. Its given by taxpayers.”

Yameen said that the judiciary does not stand to gain any freedom from being given “some money” by President Muizzu that they aren’t getting through the annual budget allocation.

“So, these people think the judiciary isn’t free or is corrupt because Muizzu isn’t giving them money out of Dhimyaath or some other place. They are treating this like something so great,” he said.

“Doesn’t know how to get anything done. And also destroying the existing system.”

Yameen said that President Muizzu should “hire consultants or something” if he does not have the expertise himself before making decisions.

Yameen said that providing a percentage of the projected state revenue to judiciary instead of providing a clear budget allocation isn’t something that is practiced anywhere in the world.

He added that he does not see any possible positive outcome such a decision could produce.

President Muizzu said that his cabinet decided on Wednesday to introduce major changes in the 2026 state budget, focused on granting the judiciary financial and administrative independence like never before.

According to him, this involves disbursing a block grant to the judiciary under a specific set of rules that is equivalent to a specific percentage of the state’s projected annual revenue.

The decision, which President Muizzu announced via his X account, were welcomed by both the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) and the Supreme Court, with both institutions sharing the post via their official social media accounts and making statements commending the decision.

This, especially the move by the Supreme Court to engage with President Muizzu on social media, has been slammed by some as a highly unethical move that risk undermining the integrity of the judiciary.