And while the Government persistently urges the patience of employees in the public sector, who are demanding higher wages, Europe now 2 seems to have already arrived in the homes of some MPs.
In addition to the basic salary, many MPs also supplement their household budget through variables, which range from almost 300 to over 400 euros per month.
The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) does not dispute that citizens' representatives should have decent wages, but they ask why variables are paid for what should be their regular job.
They point out that parliamentarians have additional privileges, and according to the data of the Assembly, they will spend 600 thousand euros for official trips this year.
1.695, 1.674, 1.861 euros - these are the December salaries of deputies, according to public data from the Parliament's website.
However, certain representatives of citizens in the parliament, in addition to the basic salary, which reaches two average salaries in the country, also have additional income.
"A member of the Parliament of Montenegro, due to his additional involvement in the work of the Collegium of the President of the Assembly, a variable part of his salary is determined in the amount of 60 percent, i.e. 427 euros. Due to his significant contribution to the member of parliament, who is the president of the working body, a variable part of his salary is determined in the amount of 40 percent , that is, 284 euros," said the Parliament of Montenegro.
This means that every month the presidents of 15 parliamentary committees receive a variable, as well as 15 members of the Collegium of Presidents of the Assembly.
Thanks to this, more than 20 deputies receive a salary of more than 2,000 euros.
"Although it is normal for MPs to receive appropriate incomes for the work they perform, the limit must be known. There is no reason why some MPs should receive additional earnings for something they perform practically as part of their regular work, especially if we know that the parliament also pays them some other expenses - for phone, fuel, apartments and the like," said Milena Gvozdenović from CDT.
In the budget for this year, the data for the parliament are as follows:
Parliament of Montenegro:
- For official trips - 610 thousand euros
- For fuel - 65 thousand euros
- For communication services - 77 thousand euros
In the CDT, they note that the coefficient for determining the basic salary is higher for the leadership of the parliament, compared to other deputies, and yet they receive I variables.
It is defined that they are received "due to a significant contribution in the activities of the board and in the sessions of the Assembly".
"I think that it should be clarified how the Parliament regulates who made a significant contribution and what actually means a significant contribution, according to which criteria it is determined, and again the question is for what," said Gvozdenović.
Board presidents and Collegium members, in addition to the variable, are accompanied by an official car.
Currently, the Parliament's fleet has 34 vehicles, which are at the disposal of the Secretary General and his deputies, as well as the head of the Cabinet of the Speaker of the Parliament Andrije Mandić.
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