Government Dismisses 248 Political Appointees in Major Cost-Saving Initiative

The Maldives government has dismissed 248 political appointees as part of its cost-cutting measures, according to Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed. This move comes following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's October 15 directive to release 228 appointees to reduce state expenditure, though the final number exceeded initial targets by 20 positions.

In a post on X, Heena confirmed that the dismissals align with the government’s economic reform agenda. Alongside the cuts, Heena announced that the Cabinet is developing a new performance evaluation system for remaining political appointees, expected to launch shortly. This assessment system aims to ensure accountability and efficiency within government roles going forward.

While the identities and specific details of the dismissed appointees remain undisclosed, President Muizzu previously clarified that the initial 228 cuts included positions across various levels, such as seven state ministers, 43 deputy ministers, 109 senior political directors, and 69 political directors. The decision is projected to save approximately MVR 5.714 million per month, alleviating pressure on the state budget.

The government has yet to release an official count of all political appointees, though the recent dismissals reflect the administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility through strategic restructuring.