The People's Majlis has passed the bill to amend the Law on Protection and Allowances for Persons who have Served as President of the Republic, aiming to cut the state budget expenses currently incurred for operating the offices of former Presidents of the Maldives.

Currently, Article 8 of this law stipulates that for a person who has served as President of the Republic to undertake beneficial social work for the community, the state shall provide funds up to MVR 175,000 per month to arrange an office, staff, and other necessities, whenever such a person requires it.

However, the bill submitted to amend this law includes a provision to remove this article.

Furthermore, this bill also includes an additional circumstance under which the financial allowance provided by this law to a person who has served as President can be suspended.

According to the current law, the financial allowance is suspended only if a person who has served one term as President, while receiving the financial allowance, is elected to the position of President for a second term, until that person vacates the position.

However, this bill states that in addition to the period during which one is elected for a second term as President, if they assume any other state position, the financial allowance will also be suspended for the duration of their tenure in that position.

Article 5 of the law states that the Maldives National Defence Force must provide adequate and appropriate protection and security for a person who has served as President of the Republic and their spouse.

However, the bill states that if the person resides outside the Maldives, it is not mandatory to provide such protection and security during their period of residence abroad.

The Majlis passed this bill with 68 votes from the 69 members present at the sitting.

The current law regarding allowances for former Presidents includes a monthly financial allowance of MVR 50,000 for a person who has served one term as President, and MVR 75,000 per month for a person who has served more than one term as President.

It also states that if a person who has served as President dies, the state must provide that financial allowance to their spouse for as long as she lives, until she remarries.

Additionally, the law states that the state must provide funds up to MVR 50,000 per month to cover all expenses for the residence of a person who has served as President.

According to the law, the state must also provide land transportation facilities at state expense to a person who has served as President and their spouse, in the island where they reside in the Maldives. And if traveling by air, the Maldives National Defence Force must also provide transportation facilities at state expense between their island of residence in the Maldives and the airport.