News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — As President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu boarded a plane for London this week, hopes high for a royal audience with King Charles III, he carried the warm wishes of his island nation, a former British protectorate that is marking 60 years of independence with minimal fuss. The diplomatic mission, a nod to historical ties and a chance to express gratitude for a smooth colonial exit, comes with the customary pomp of a presidential entourage.
Yet back home, the opposition is less focused on royal pleasantries and more on a brewing controversy over numbers that don’t quite add up. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the main opposition, has raised eyebrows over discrepancies in the government’s reported count of political appointees.
“All is well,” the statement seemed to imply, as if the president’s travel plans and the nation’s fiscal health were as harmonious as a sunset over the atolls. But the opposition begs to differ.
Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer took to X, claiming that as of October last year, the government had ballooned to 2,280 political appointees. Even accounting for 248 layoffs, Ameer estimates the true number remains closer to 2,000—far exceeding the 700 the government initially promised.
“Since then, many employees have been hired,” Ameer posted, suggesting that the President’s Office, along with Presidential Palace and Vice President’s mansion Hilaalige, could be harboring over 1,100 staff by year’s end.
Anas Abdul Sattar, a former state minister and MDP spokesperson, echoed these concerns in an interview with SunOnline. He accused the government of obfuscating the true count of political posts, particularly those within the President’s Office and Presidential Palace, where the first family resides.
“The figures were very much withheld for so long to misrepresent the figures,” Anas said, his repetition underscoring the opposition’s frustration. He suggested the government’s release of the 922 figure was a strategic distraction, designed to quiet those digging for the real tally.
Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, another MDP voice, pointed to the state budget as evidence of the mismatch. “The exact figures are more than 2,000,” he insisted, casting doubt on the government’s claims. “I just don’t believe it’s a good number.”
Mauroof’s chief grievance is not merely the headcount but the lack of tangible results for the money spent. With the budget stretched thin, the opposition argues that the proliferation of political posts—20 ministers, 14 at ministerial level, 93 state ministers, 216 deputy ministers, and a dizzying array of directors—feels more like patronage than progress.
The President’s Office, for its part, has maintained a breezy confidence. A detailed breakdown released Tuesday listed 318 senior political directors, 169 political directors, and 49 “other” political positions, among others. Yet when pressed on transparency during a marathon 15-hour press conference on May 3, President Muizzu seemed genuinely surprised that anyone thought the numbers were secret. “I was not aware that the information was kept undisclosed,” he said, promising openness while deftly sidestepping specifics.
As President Muizzu seeks to charm the British monarchy, the opposition’s number-crunching paints a less regal picture at home. The MDP’s accusations, while sharp, stop short of directly challenging the president’s integrity, framing the issue as a bureaucratic misstep rather than malice. After all, in a nation of coral islands and coalition politics, diplomacy—whether with foreign royals or domestic rivals—remains the art of keeping the peace while the numbers tell their own story.
