Former MP Nihad appointed as state minister at Tourism Ministry

Former Feydhoo MP Mohamed Nihad – who was among over a dozen lawmakers who defected to the now ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) following Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s failed re-election bid in 2023 – has been appointed as a state minister at the Tourism Ministry.

Nihad was among 13 lawmakers who left the MDP to join PNC on December 28, 2023 – a month after the PNC administration took office.

A top government official confirmed to Sun that Nihad was appointed as a state minister on Saturday. The job will earn him a monthly salary of MVR 43,500.

Nihad got elected to the Parliament on an MDP ticket in 2019. But he did not run for re-election this year, after he defected to PNC.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had announced the rollout of austerity measures last month, including cutting political posts. Delivering his annual address earlier this year, he said he would not make political appointments beyond what was “absolutely necessary.”

President Muizzu had announced more austerity measures again during a PNC rally on Sunday night, including cutting the number of council members and capping the number of Parliament members to 77. He also announced plans to submit legislature to combine the presidential and parliamentary elections.