Eleven Cabinet Resignations In A Month As Four More Quit in the Maldives

A further four cabinet ministers and seven deputy ministers on Saturday left government under a clause in the constitution banning dual parliament and cabinet roles, meaning eleven ministers have now quit cabinet in a month.

Those leaving are Minister at the President’s Office Aneesa Ahmed, Minister for the Community Organisations Development Council Ibrahim Hussain Maniku, Presidential Affairs Minister Mohamed Hussein and Minister at the National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research Abbas Ibrahim, also Gayoom’s brother-in-law.

Deputy ministers for justice Ahmed Mohamed, education Hussain Mohamed, higher education Abdul Ghafoor Ibrahim, home affairs Ismail Abdul Hameed, health Ali Mohamed, atolls Ibrahim Shareef, president’s office Abdul Maseeh Mohamed have also left government.

The moves were expected following Thursday’s ratification of the new constitution, which states that ministers cannot also be parliamentarians – forcing those with both roles to choose one or the other.

It also comes ahead of a cabinet reshuffle expected on Sunday, following a spate of recent resignations over a new ban on business interests, as well as departures for policy reasons.

The four former ministers are all MPs and have chosen to continue in that capacity ahead of the country’s first multi-party presidential polls.

According to article 73d, the new constitution states that “unless otherwise specifically provided in the Constitution, a member of the People’s Majlis shall not continue to hold office in the Cabinet of Ministers, the office of State Minister, Deputy Minister” or other specified positions.

Aneesa Ahmed confirmed to opposition newspaper Minivan Daily she had resigned, saying she had submitted her resignation on Wednesday.

Her request, along with the other resignations, was accepted on Saturday, according to the president’s office website.

On the same day, four ministers who publicly left on Wednesday over business interests held a press conference with President Gayoom. The new constitution bans ministers from having an “active involvement” in business.

Justice Minister Mohamed Muiz Adnan, Fisheries Minister Hussein Hilmy, Youth Minister Waheed Deen and Housing Minister Ibrahim Rafeeq resigned to pursue business interests.

“Four ministers have submitted their resignations because they want to continue with their businesses. There is no other reason,” Gayoom told reporters on Wednesday.

Asked by journalists if other ministers had submitted resignations that had not been accepted, Gayoom said only that the four had left.

Gayoom has said all four ministers will continue to support him in the oncoming elections, but reports suggest Muiz Adnan may join the Republican Party.

In July, Trade Minister Mohamed Jaleel, Finance Minister Gasim Ibrahim and Tourism Minister Mahmoud Shaughee quit after criticism over a widening budget deficit and the leasing out of new resorts to boost government revenue.

Gasim has said he may run for the national presidency on the Republican party ticket.

Former ministers Hassan Saeed, Ahmed Shaheed and Mohamed Jameel – three young ministers brought into the cabinet in 2005 – resigned in August 2007.

In April, Gayoom promoted nine ministers, close associates and relatives of the president who had already been in the government and left or been sacked previously. Five of these were handed the title of “senior minister”, a post created at that time.

Parliament is scheduled to elect a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker tomorrow.