A petition has been launched on Latvia’s public initiative platform ManaBalss.lv calling for the abolition of compensation paid to members of the Saeima for transport and residential rental expenses.
A total of 10,000 signatures are required for the collective initiative to be submitted to the Saeima for consideration. So far, more than 4,300 people have signed it.
The initiative was launched by Andis Feldmanis, deputy chairman of the Latvian Trade Union of Health and Social Care Employees.
The petition argues that everyone has the right to freely choose their occupation and place of residence. It points out that many healthcare and social care workers, as well as teachers, commute to work from more distant regions or are forced to rent accommodation in another city, covering these expenses themselves.
As legislation does not require employers to cover employees’ transport or accommodation costs, including rent or hotel expenses, there is no objective reason why members of the Saeima should be placed in a more favourable position than other employees in the state and municipal sectors, the initiative states.
“The position of a member of the Saeima should, in essence, be a position of public trust and honour,
not a position for profit,” the initiative’s author argues.
“At a time when the state budget is in deficit and there is insufficient funding for critically important areas such as healthcare, education and internal security, maintaining such compensation is unacceptable and contrary to the public interest,” the petition states.
According to the author, abolishing the current system would save taxpayers’ money, which could instead be allocated to more important public needs.
“By abolishing such compensation, members of the Saeima would demonstrate solidarity with the people of Latvia,” the initiative states.
According to publicly available information,
Saeima deputies received a total of 22,419.53 euros in expense compensation in June this year.
Of this amount, 13,732.98 euros were paid in housing rental compensation, while 8,686.55 euro were paid to cover transport expenses.
The largest total compensation payment in June went to Artūrs Butāns (National Alliance), who received 934.53 euros. He was followed by Līga Kļaviņa (Union of Greens and Farmers) with 928.35 euros, Ramona Petraviča (Latvia First) with 903.97 euros, Viktorija Pleškāne (Latvia First) with 900.48 euros and Anita Brakovska (Union of Greens and Farmers) with 886.04 euros.
Other MPs among the largest recipients included Jānis Skrastiņš (New Unity), who received 839.44 euros, and Jānis Vucāns (Union of Greens and Farmers), who received 837.02 euros.
The largest individual housing rental compensation in June was paid to Līga Kozlovska (Union of Greens and Farmers), at 800 euros. Līga Kļaviņa received 780 euros, Ramona Petraviča 750 euros, Artūrs Butāns 750 euros and Mārcis Jencītis (Latvia First) 720 euros.
The highest transport expense compensation was paid to Anita Brakovska, at 486.04 euros, followed by Edgars Putra (United List) with 452.15 euros, Atis Labucis (Latvia First) with 426.53 euros, Viktorija Pleškāne with 400.48 euros and Jānis Vucāns with 397.02 euros.
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