Majlis Slashes Parliamentary Opposition Council Salaries and Facilities to 60 Percent

The People's Majlis, during its budget deliberations for fiscal year 2026, has decided to reduce the salaries and facilities of members of the Parliamentary Opposition Council to 60 percent of the amount previously paid, alongside cuts to other items. It has been revealed that in the Majlis's budget discussion and approval process, the salaries and facilities previously granted to members of the Parliamentary Opposition Council under a Majlis resolution have now been cut. According to the budget document, salaries and facilities are to be reduced to 60 percent of the amount previously paid, and other facilities provided in line with the Majlis's rules and procedures are also being removed. At the same time, the budget deliberations stated that the number of days on which members of the Parliamentary Opposition Council are entitled to receive their salaries has been reduced from 12 days a month to a smaller number, and that facilities provided under the council's rules and procedures will no longer be available in full. According to the budget document, salaries and facilities are to be paid for only 18 days a month instead of the earlier entitlement, and the reduction also covers facilities previously provided in connection with parliamentary session days. It has been reported that, in the budget for the Parliamentary Opposition Council, the number of parliamentary session days for which salary and facilities may be paid was reduced from 12 to 11 days. The budget document also states that in some cases the entitlement will be limited to 8 days a month, with the possibility of further reduction. Under the changes, council members will also lose the additional facilities previously granted under the Majlis's internal rules and procedures, including allowances for attendance and related expenses. The budget document shows that the total amount allocated to the Parliamentary Opposition Council has been reduced by 600,000, and that the council will no longer receive the full amount previously allocated for salaries and facilities. It was also reported that, in accordance with the Majlis's decisions, the reduction of salaries and facilities for members of the Parliamentary Opposition Council has been finalized. According to the source, while the salaries of opposition MPs were previously paid in full under the Majlis's rules and procedures, the new decision now limits the amount that may be paid. As a result, opposition MPs will no longer receive the same salary and facility entitlements as before. Sources said that under the revised system, opposition MPs will receive only 240,000 rufiyaa instead of the previously paid salary, and that some facilities worth 3.5 million rufiyaa will also be cut. The budget document also states that the reduction of salaries and facilities for the Parliamentary Opposition Council has been approved in accordance with the Majlis's rules and procedures, and that this will apply to 90 parliamentary session days.