President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced his administration's intention to reduce the number of members in the Parliament, councils, and various institutions established under different laws, aiming to cut state expenditure. He made this announcement during a rally organized by the ruling party, People's National Congress (PNC).
At the rally, President Muizzu highlighted the inefficiency of electing a large number of members to the island councils, especially for islands with small populations. He suggested that a president and a vice-president would be sufficient for such councils, deeming the current structure as ineffective. The President plans to propose amendments to the law to resize and restructure the island councils, making them smaller and more productive for the benefit of the people.
Furthermore, President Muizzu emphasised the need to reduce the number of parliamentarians to 77 members, as was the case during the 17th Parliament. He argued that such a reduction would save hundreds of millions of public funds, which could then be redirected towards development projects. He asserted that large numbers of council and parliament members, as well as commissions, are not necessary to serve the people effectively.
The President also mentioned his plan to merge commissions with similar agendas to cut government expenditure and enhance productivity. These measures are part of a broader strategy by his administration to implement cost-saving reforms.
A bill to amend the constitution to reduce and keep the number of parliamentarians constant is currently under consideration in Parliament, reflecting President Muizzu's commitment to these proposed changes.