4 Countries with the Largest Cabinets

October 20, 2024 | 10:41 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The structure of government cabinets varies widely among countries, influenced by applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, the number of ministers in each country is often determined by the president or head of state. While some countries have relatively small cabinets, some nations have remarkably large cabinets, with the number of ministers reaching into the hundreds.

Here is a list of four countries with the largest cabinets, regardless of their size or population:

1. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka established a historical precedent by forming the world's largest cabinet during President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term in office in 2010. This cabinet comprised 107 ministers, including 67 cabinet ministers and 40 state ministers or ministers without portfolios.

Despite their ministerial titles, the ministers without portfolios enjoyed the same privileges as their cabinet counterparts. Rajapaksa, the then-president, maintained this "jumbo" cabinet until 2015, at the expense of taxpayers' funds.

2. Pakistan

The current government in Pakistan is a coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comprised of 13 political parties. This administration has a cabinet of 76 members, including state ministers, advisors, and special assistants.

One of the new government's initial actions was to introduce over 100 amendments to laws, with the apparent aim of hindering legal proceedings against the ruling dynasty and its allies. Despite having a history of large cabinets, the Shehbaz Sharif government's cabinet remains the largest in Pakistan.

3. South Africa

Prior to the general elections, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet consisted of 30 ministerial positions. Following the elections, this number expanded to 32. Subsequently, the introduction of two deputy ministers for some positions further increased the total to 43.

Currently, the president and vice president preside over a cabinet that includes both ministers and deputy ministers, totaling 77 members. Despite Ramaphosa's initial intention to reduce the size of the cabinet, it has instead grown over time.

4. India

"Minimum government, maximum governance" has long been one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favorite slogans. However, during his third term, the balance between these two principles was disrupted due to coalition political pressures and the need to bolster representation from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) core states.

Modi has recently sworn in a cabinet of 71 ministers, comprising 30 cabinet ministers, 5 state ministers (independent charge), and 36 deputy ministers. Despite this large cabinet, only three of the 30 cabinet ministers hail from South India.

LANKAE NEWS | NEW INDIAN EXPRESS | ARAB NEWS | DW

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