The President's Office has stated that a few members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) are obstructing the parliamentary approval of the cabinet ministers.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister at the President's Office Ali Arif noted that many members of MDP do not support the efforts to obstruct the approval of the ministers. He said that the President has fulfilled his legal responsibility by forming his Cabinet and submitting the names of the ministers for approval. He added that it is now the responsibility of the Parliament to review and approve the appointments as stipulated by the Constitution.
Additionally, Arif said that the parliamentary committee has confirmed that the ministers meet the requirements and therefore, there is no reason not to approve them. He noted that not all MDP members want to prolong the process and many of them are unhappy over the actions of a few members who are refusing to approve the ministers. He added that such an action has never been taken in previous Parliaments, expressing concern that the issue is preventing the ministers from effectively fulfilling their responsibilities.
Also speaking to PSM News, Muaz Mohamed Rasheed, the Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation Limited and former parliamentarian, said that cabinet ministers appointed by the President should be approved if they meet the legal requirements and that it is not left to the discretion of parliamentarians. He highlighted that the President was elected by the people and the President has chosen his cabinet ministers, meaning that preventing their approval is interfering with the will of the people.