Parliament to vote on approval of each minister, separately

Parliament’s Government Oversight Committee decided on Sunday to call for separate votes on approval for each of the 22 government ministers.

During a meeting on Sunday, the committee decided that all 22 members of the new Cabinet meet the requirements stipulated on the constitution.

But Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau, a politician from the main opposition MDP, suggested though the report on the ministers will be sent to the floor together, the vote for approval must be conducted separately for each minister.

The motion was seconded by Thulusdhoo MP Ahmed Naseem, who recently joined the ruling PNC.

The motion passed with the unanimous vote of the committee members in attendance.

The Cabinet:

• Minister of Defense - Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon
• Minister of Foreign Affairs - Moosa Zameer
• Minister of Homeland Security and Technology - Ali Ihusaan
• Minister of Finance - Dr Mohamed Shafeeq
• Minister of Education - Dr Ismail Shafeeu
• Minister of Health - Dr Abdulla Khaleel
• Minister of Economic Development and Trade - Mohamed Saeed
• Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources - Ahmed Shiyam
• Attorney General - Uz Ahmed Usham
• Minister of Islamic Affairs - Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed
• Minister of Tourism - Ibrahim Faisal
• Minister of Social and Family Development - Dr Aishath Shiham
• Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation - Abdulla Rafiu
• Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy - Thoriq Ibrahim
• Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development - Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed
• Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation - Mohamed Ameen
• Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage - Adam Naseer Ibrahim
• Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development - Dr Maryam Mariya
• Minister of Construction and Infrastructure - Dr Abdulla Muththalib
• Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare - Dr Aishath Rameela
• Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts - Ibrahim Waheed
• Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works - Adam Shareef

While some MDP parliamentarians – who hold a majority in the Parliament – have previously called against backing some of the ministers, the party has made no official decision in the matter.