President seeks approval for three ministers after earlier rejection

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has asked the Parliament for approval for three ministers who were re-appointed to his cabinet after their appointment was rejected by the legislative body last week.

The Parliament held the long-delayed cabinet approval vote in an extraordinary sitting on January 29. Lawmakers approved 19 ministers, but rejected three; Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Attorney General Ahmed Usham.

The MDP – which holds a majority in the Parliament - had passed a three-line red whip the day before to reject the three ministers, as well as Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed. Saeed narrowly survived the vote.

But within hours of the vote, President Muizzu reappointed the three ministers to his cabinet

Parliament’s communications director Hassan Ziyau told Sun that the President’s Office made the request for approval for the three ministers on Tuesday. Ziyau said the Parliament has yet to decide on how to proceed.

The MDP has questioned the legitimacy of the reappointment of the three ministers, and remains adamant that the party will not endorse them.

The party has accused the government of holding the Parliament in contempt with its decision.