Latvian Saeima members received over EUR 22,000 in compensations in June

Publicly available information shows that Saeima deputies received a total of EUR 22,419.53 in compensations in June this year. Of this, EUR 13,732.98 went to rental housing compensations and EUR 8,686.55 to transport expense reimbursements.

The largest total compensation was received by Artūrs Butāns (NA), who was paid EUR 934.53. He was followed by Līga Kļaviņa (ZZS) with EUR 928.35, Ramona Petraviča (LPV) with EUR 903.97, Viktorija Pleškāne (LPV) with EUR 900.48, and Anita Brakovska (ZZS) with EUR 886.04. The list of largest recipients also includes Jānis Skrastiņš (JV) with EUR 839.44 and Jānis Vucāns (ZZS) with EUR 837.02.

As for housing rent compensations, Līga Kozlovska (ZZS) received the most in June with EUR 800, followed by Līga Kļaviņa (EUR 780), Ramona Petraviča (EUR 750), Artūrs Butāns (EUR 750) and Mārcis Jencītis (LPV) with EUR 720. The largest transport compensations went to Anita Brakovska (ZZS) with EUR 486.04, Edgars Putrs (AS) with EUR 452.15, Atis Labucis (LPV) with EUR 426.53, Viktorija Pleškāne with EUR 400.48 and Jānis Vucāns with EUR 397.02.

Although the total allowance for deputies' compensations in June was EUR 66,751, only EUR 22,419.53, or roughly one third, was actually paid. Not all parliamentarians use this opportunity — for instance, in August, 58 out of 100 deputies had not received any compensations.

According to the Saeima Rules of Procedure, deputies may apply for a unified housing rent and transport compensation, including for public transport use. The maximum amount is determined based on the deputy's declared place of residence, and the Saeima reimburses only actual expenses within the approved limit. The compensations are calculated by applying coefficients set in law to the average wage from two years earlier.

The system was designed so that a deputy's place of residence does not affect his or her ability to perform duties, and so that deputies elected from more remote regions are not at a disadvantage compared with colleagues registered in Riga.