Nearly a hundred former officials of the executive and legislative authorities receive compensation upon termination of office, according to data submitted to "Vijesti".
From the Government Milojko Spajić announced that according to the data of their General Secretariat, 52 former officials of the executive authority receive compensation.
In addition to former government officials, 34 former members of parliament and eight former advisers in parliament also receive money from the state on the same basis.
The Government notes that when it comes to former members of the executive branch (prime minister and ministers), their right to compensation is determined by the Parliamentary Administrative Committee.
The Ministry of Finance did not respond to the "News" questions about how much money is allocated monthly from the budget for officials' fees.
Given that, in addition to the above-mentioned officials, they are also received by former officials in the entire state administration, we can speak of a cost of several hundred thousand euros per month, and several million per year.
The Government told "Vijesti" that 18 former officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the General Secretariat receive compensation.
"The total amount for this purpose is 32.240,01 euros in gross amount, on a monthly basis," they add.
"Vijesti" recently announced that 34 MPs received compensation in October. Fees ranged from 1,6 thousand to 4,9 thousand euros per deputy (some were paid a salary for several months in October).
In October, eight former advisers of the former President of the Assembly also received compensation Danijela Đurović and three advisers to the former vice-president of the parliament Branke Bošnjak. They received from 1,1 thousand to 1,7 thousand euros.
The ruling Europe Now Movement (PES) has announced that this party, in agreement with its partners from the ruling majority, will propose changes to the act, which stipulates that benefits are received one year after the termination of office.
However, according to the unofficial information of "Vijesti", PES does not have the support of colleagues from the government. No one from the majority parties (excluding PES) responded to the "News" whether they would support changes to the law defining the compensation of officials upon termination of office. No answers came from the opposition either.
The coalition agreement on the new government stipulates that the parliamentary majority will not support the adoption of laws that were not previously agreed upon by the collegium of the leaders of its constituents or the heads of parliamentary clubs of those parties.
Head of the PES Parliamentary Club Miodrag Laković, told "Vijesti" on Wednesday that it depends on the agreement of the majority whether the benefits will be reduced, paid for a shorter period, or both.
Remunerations are defined by laws on salaries of employees in the public sector and civil servants and state employees. That solution was introduced into the acts by the government of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
The Law on Salaries of Employees in the Public Sector (Article 36) stipulates that officials have the right to receive compensation for one year after termination of office in the amount of the salary they received in the last month before termination of office, with appropriate adjustment. The fee is realized at the user's personal request.
The Law on Civil Servants and State Employees (Article 60) states that "an appointed or appointed person", who has not been assigned to another workplace, has the right to compensation in the amount of the salary he had in the last month of performing the duties of the workplace where he was appointed, i.e. appointed, with appropriate coordination. The law leaves open the possibility that the "exceptional" right to compensation can be extended for another year, if during that time he acquires the right to a pension.
The NGO sector has repeatedly appealed to reduce the fees, shorten the period of their receipt and define who can receive them.
The Center for Civic Education (CGO) recently resubmitted the initiative to amend two laws to the Parliamentary Committee for Political System, Judiciary and Administration.
The CGE also sent this initiative to the previous convocation of the Assembly in February 2022, but their proposal was ignored.
Government: Last year, compensation was determined for 91 officials
According to the data that "Vijesti" received from the Government, in 2022 the right to compensation was established for 91 officials, and in 2021 for 87 officials.
Radio Free Europe announced in July that since 2020, at least 6,9 million euros have been paid for benefits from the state budget.
Of this, more than 2022 million euros have been paid since the election of the Government of Dritan Abazović at the end of April 2,2.
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