Members of the state parliament earned almost 133.000 euros in variable income last year, which is an average of more than 11.000 euros per month.
This is shown by data that "Vijesti" received from the Parliament with the help of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) application for free access to information.
The decision on the variable part of the salary for members of the Parliament stipulates that for special contributions and additional engagement, they can be rewarded with up to 80 percent of the average net salary in Montenegro in the previous year.
Thus, in 2024, parliamentarians received 633 euros in variable pay per month in addition to their salary, and the only criterion for this was that the Collegium of the Speaker of the Parliament assessed that they had "specially contributed" or "additionally engaged" in the work of the highest legislative house or its working bodies.
The average net salary in 2023 was 792 euros, and variable amounts ranged from 40 to 80 percent of it.
Documentation obtained by "Vijesti" shows that decisions on variables were always made well before the end of the month for which they were paid. For example, on June 18 last year, a decision was made on the amount of MPs' variables for that month.
The Parliament told "Vijesti" that, in accordance with the deadline prescribed by the Ministry of Finance, the calculation of salaries, which includes the variable part of the salary (variables), is carried out by the twentieth of the month for that month, so decisions on the variable part of the salary must be made by the specified deadline.
Last year, MPs were paid a total of 132.897,60 euros in salary supplements.
On this basis, during 2024, the president of the Social Democrats (SD) parliamentary group and the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget earned the most. Boris Mugoša - 6.177,60 euros. Next is the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Zdenka Popović (Democrats) and heads of the Civic Movement (GP) URA and Socialist People's Party (SNP) parliamentary groups Milos Konatar i Bogdan Božović for 5.860,80 euros.
"Vijestima" received a letter a month ago from the office of the head of the legislative house Andrije Mandić (New Serbian Democracy - NSD) announced that the variable part of the salary is paid with the basic salary.
The amount of 5.702,40 was received by ten assembly members - Mandić, vice presidents Boris Pejović (Europe Now Movement - PES) and Nikola Camaj (Albanian Forum - AF), as well as the presidents of the parliamentary groups of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Andrija Nikolić, Bosniak parties (BS) Amer Smailovic, PES Vasilije Carapić, a Democrat Boris Bogdanovic, special club Jevrosima Pejović, Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knezevic and the Croatian Civic Initiative and the Democratic Union of Albanians Adrian Vuksanovic.
Head of the NSD parliamentary group Dejan Djurovic he earned 4.435,20 euros, and the vice president of parliament Mirsad Nurković (BS) 4.118,40 euros. Before taking up this position, Đurović chaired the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, and Nurković chaired the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget.
The President of the Commission for Monitoring and Control of the Privatization Process received 3.484,80 euros each from variables. Ugleša Urošević (PES) and Head of the Administrative Committee Jelena Nedović (PES).
Former head of the NSD parliamentary group (current Minister of Urban Planning) Slaven Radunović he earned 3.326,40 euros based on variables, and the chairman of the Committee for International Relations and Emigrants Dusko Stjepović (Democrats) 3.168,00 euros.
The amount of 2.851,20 was received by the President of the Security and Defense Committee Miodrag Laković (PES), Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs Drazen Petrić (PES) and the Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sport Nikola Rovčanin (Democrats), while the head of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Jovan Vučurović (NSD) and the Committee for Gender Equality Jelenka Andric (PES) earned 2.534,40 euros each. The first man of the Anti-corruption Committee Jevto Erakovic (DPS) generated 2.217,60 euros in variable income.
Four MPs received 1.900,80 euros each - the former head of the Legislative Committee (current Minister of Transport) Maja Vukićević (DNP), former head of the Committee for Political System, Judiciary and Administration (current Deputy Prime Minister) Milun Zogović (DNP), Chairman of the Committee on European Integration Ivan Vukovic (DPS) and the first man of the AF MPs' club Artan Chobi.
Head of the Legislative Committee Dragan Bojović (DNP) and former President of the Constitutional Committee (Minister of Tourism) Simonida Kordić (NSD) earned 1.267,20 euros each, and her successor on the Board Jelena Božović (NSD) 950,40 euros. Božović also received a variable for her contribution to the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget.
The president of the Committee for Political System and Administration earned 633,60 each. Vladislav Bojović (DNP) and Deputy Chair of the Legislative Committee Sonja Popovic (DPS). She was also awarded for her participation in the Commission for the Selection of Judges of the Constitutional Court (US).
The amount of 316,80 euros was received by six MPs - Deputy Chairs of the Anti-Corruption Committee Momcilo Leković (Democrats), Vice Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Immigrants Admir Adrović (BS), Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Political System, Judiciary and Administration Nikola Zirojevic (SD), but also MPs Tonći Janović (PES), Mihailo Andjusic (DPS) and Darko Dragović (PES).
Janović and Anđušić were awarded for being part of the working group for the Public Competition for the Appointment of the President and Four Members of the Council of the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services, and Dragović for chairing the Commission for the Selection of Judges of the Constitutional Court.
According to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, a deputy is entitled to a salary, compensation, and reward during the performance of his/her duties as a deputy. This means that deputies are entitled to additional remuneration for their work in the Collegium of the President of the Assembly, as well as in parliamentary committees. The Rules of Procedure also provide for the possibility of rewarding deputies for special contributions.
The Decision on Remuneration for Participation in the Work of the Collegium and Working Bodies of the Parliament was in force until the end of March 2016. According to that decision, the President of the Parliament received 375 euros for his work in the Collegium, and members, deputy presidents of parliament and heads of parliamentary groups received 300 euros.
Chairmen of parliamentary committees were entitled to a compensation of 300 euros, and members to 150. If an MP was a member of two or more parliamentary bodies, he was entitled to a compensation of 225 euros.
Since December 2017, only the Decision on the Variable Part of the Salary for MPs has been in force, which, instead of fixed amounts, relies on average net salary.
That income, at least according to official data, is growing year after year.
Last year, the State Audit Institution also questioned the method of paying variables to MPs in its audit report.
Several members of parliament received an 80 percent salary bonus in one month
A monthly variable of 60 percent of the average net salary for 2023 was received by members of parliament who participate in the work of the Collegium of the Speaker of the Parliament - heads of parliamentary groups, deputy speakers of parliament and the first person of the highest legislative house.
Compensation of 40 percent of the average net salary for 2023 was received by the chairmen of parliamentary committees and individual members of these bodies, members of commissions formed to elect members of state institutions, as well as those who, for example, monitored privatization procedures...
Several MPs received compensation of 80 percent of the average salary for 2023 in one month - Zdenka Popović, Boris Mugoša, Bogdan Božović, Miloš Konatar. As heads of parliamentary groups, or in the case of Popović, who is the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, they participated in the work of the Collegium of the First Man of the Assembly, but were also members of the aforementioned committees.
As DF spoke about variables: Illegal, shameful, dishonest
In January 2018, the parliamentary group of the former Democratic Front demanded the abolition of the variables that were awarded to MPs of the then ruling coalition (in December 2017) along with their salaries, in the amount of 80 percent of the then average salary.
They then said that it was "illegal", "shameful" and "unfair" to distribute bonuses at a time when the government is pursuing a restrictive financial policy.
Two members of that former alliance, NSD and DNP, did not respond to "Vijesti's" questions about what had changed compared to 2018, and why they did not demand the complete abolition of variables when they came to power.
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