Secretary of the House: MPs are not compensated for oil, but for road expenses

Parliament Secretary Ismet Krasniqi, during reporting to the Commission for Business, Labour and Finance, said that because of the pandemic there were fewer legislative activities and therefore there were more savings in all expenditures.

Before the commission, Krasniqi also clarified the form of compensation for MPs' travel expenses. He said that people's choice is not compensated for fuel, but for the expenses of the road, whether by car or taxi.

“The costs for 2021 for the four higher programmes amount to 8 million and 83 thousand and 381 euros. In the category salaries and additions is about 6 million and 805 thousand, or 99.9 per cent of the final budget. But goods and services 773 thousand 577 euros, or 89.56 per cent of the final budget. Municipal spending 170 thousand and 932 euros, or 100 per cent of the final budget. Subventions and transfers 9 thousand 800 euros and capital expenditures 323 thousand euros. Because of pandemic, there have been fewer activities and there have been also savings in all types of expenditures”, he said.

Concerns for Raised Official Expenses Raised MP PDK, Ferat Shala.

We have increased official spending, compared to 2020. Why is this increase in official spending in pandemic time, when even the country's institutions have been closed. Or the expenses of official trips -- from 40 thousand euros -- have amounted to 61 thousand and 258 euros. We also have an increase in other expenditures from 91,000 as it was in 2020, have gone to 159 thousand”, he said.

However, the secretary, Krasniqi said the gap between the years is only 70,000 euros, despite more activities in 2021.

In addition, he said MPs do not receive fuel payments and there are no budgetary lines for such a thing.

“Deputes are not paid for fuel. The MP's salary has, as we said, five sources -- is the basic salary, the functional part is the compensation of the session and parliamentary commissions, road spending and daily spending. All of this is accounted for as an entrance to the deputy, so there's no budgetary charge for budgeting and it's not sustainable. MPs are compensated for road expenses, whether by taxi or by car or bus, but it has no fuel for MP”, Krasniqi has said.

The AAK deputy Paul Lekaj, who criticised the Assembly for its lack of time to clarify the trip of MPs, was included.

I'm sorry that all that noise was made for MPs to strip the MP. If it's someone's policy that even this institution will be completely stripped and not be of particular importance, the citizens' vote, then I don't know where this will lead us. And I'm saying for media that I'm really glad that after many days the clarification is made that there's no credit card, it doesn't count the derivatives, but it counts the expense. I start by myself, for two months 40 meetings I've had and my permanent address is in Gjakova”, he said.

Neither at today's session did the commission find compliance with the application for the appointment of the MP's height of compensation for the leadership post and compensation of expenditures.

The PDK and AAK rejected such a request and said the MP's salary should be adjusted to the Law of Salaries, rather than in that form. While the Democratic League of Kosovo demanded additional clarifications for MP compensation figures and international practices.

However, the chairman of the Commission, Armend Muja, said the decision-making proposal on this topic would be at the commission's next meeting.

Meanwhile, on the agenda was BQC report on progress report for the year 2021, but because of the governor's agenda, Fehmi Memeti was decided to report next week.