MPs paid over 530m euros for unproductive sessions

Although the Constitutional Court has imposed until August 8th any decision of action by MPs, they continue to be paid according to the Law of Salaries. For 54 contract efforts, they received full salaries dedicated to the state wallet more than half a million euros.

In addition, the assistants of these deputies paid 77 thousand euros for only a month.

The House Administration confirmed it.  Radio Kosovo that the July and first week of August payments are not included in the expenses for the salaries of assistants and MPs.

According to data provided for the salaries of 120 lawmakers who emerged from the February 9th elections, 95 thousand 633.93 euros was allocated for May 234 thousand and 998 euros, while in June 199 thousand and 907.67.

However, the Directorate for Media and Relations with the Kosovo Assembly Public, has shown that “deputs have not benefited other benefits, and none of them have dropped their salaries”.

For these payments based on the Law on Salaries in the public sector, Naim Jakaj from the Kosovo Institute for Justice, an organisation that monitors the work of the Parliament, says they are not meritable.

These salaries have no economic gravity, despite the socioeconomic situation. In the ethical sense, yes, it is unfair to receive wages without working, “says Jakaj.

However, Jakaj says they are arguing with the fact that the first party is not making power its rightful. “This is essentially saying that we are exercising our rights by participating in any session”, he said.

However, in this long period of the Parliament's institution, not all 120 MPs elected assistants. According to the Assembly Administration on the salary list, there are 87 deputies' assistants, who received at least 136 thousand and 802 euros for May and June alone.