MDP MPs call for reversal of pay rises for Speaker and ministers

Twelve opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs have called for the reversal of a People's Majlis Public Accounts Committee decision to raise the pay of the Speaker, ministers and island councillors.

The committee completed its review of the salaries of the Speaker, island council members and ministers at its 24th meeting of the year on 21 October, according to the Majlis website. The committee has not published the new pay figures.

The MPs' statement

In a joint statement issued by the party's parliamentary group on 25 October, the MPs said the changes would add MVR 40 million a year to state spending at a time when the country faces financial difficulties. They described the decision as irresponsible and said MDP members had no part in it.

The MPs said the government had spent MVR 4.5 billion more than its revenue so far this year while public debt kept rising, and accused the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), which holds a majority in Parliament, of amending several laws to raise taxes.

They said using council block grants to raise councillors' pay would affect services to residents, and noted that a resolution on overtime pay for education and health workers, submitted to Parliament on 16 June 2025, has still not been concluded.

The statement called on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to reverse the increases and urged the government and Parliament to cut spending and ease the burden on the public. Neither the committee nor the government had published a response on official channels at the time of writing.