President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Third Amendment to the Former Presidents’ Protection and Benefit Act, establishing benefits for former Vice-Presidents for the first time. The Bill was passed by the 20th People’s Majlis during the 27th sitting of its third session of 2025, held on Sunday, 1 December 2025.

The Amendment strengthens the legal framework governing protections and entitlements for former Presidents and Vice-Presidents, while clarifying the conditions under which such benefits may be granted, suspended, or withdrawn.

A key provision of the Amendment is the removal of the office allowance previously provided to former Presidents, introduced as part of the Government’s wider efforts to ensure more efficient use of State resources.

For the first time, former Vice-Presidents who have completed a full five-year presidential term are granted benefits under the Act. These include a monthly allowance of MVR 30,000 and State-funded healthcare services both within the Maldives and overseas.

The Amendment also stipulates that financial benefits granted to a former President who has served a full term will be suspended if the individual is elected for a second presidential term or assumes another State office. Additionally, a former President residing abroad will not be entitled to State-provided protection or security during their period of residence outside the country.

Further, the Amendment provides that if a former President or Vice-President is convicted of a criminal offence committed while in office, all protections and benefits accorded under the Act will be suspended from the date of conviction for both the individual and their spouse.

Following ratification, the Amendment has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into effect.