The Parliament has approved a 15-minute speaking time for each MP during debates on the proposed 2027 State Budget.

The allocation was approved by the Parliament’s General Committee, which is responsible for determining debate timings under Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

South Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi proposed allocating 15 minutes to each member for the budget debate and seven minutes each to discuss the Budget Committee’s report on the proposed budget.

The committee also approved allocating a total of 45 minutes to the Finance Minister to respond to questions from MPs at different stages of the debate. Didi said the same arrangement was followed last year. The proposal was seconded by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakur.

Finance Minister Hassan Zareer submitted the proposed MVR 59.7 billion budget for 2027 to Parliament last Thursday.

Under Parliament’s rules, budget debates begin after MPs are given seven days from the date of submission to review the proposal. Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the debate would be scheduled after the review period.