Latvia's Saeima plans to remove deputies' expense compensation rule from its procedural code
The Saeima's Legal Affairs Committee is fast-tracking amendments that would move the regulation of MPs' compensation into the remuneration law. The annotation says no new compensation amounts or conditions are being introduced.
The Legal Affairs Committee of Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, is fast-tracking amendments to the Saeima Rules of Procedure that would delete the provision on compensation for deputies' expenses. The area is to be governed by a different law instead. The issue has gained attention after reports about a housing rental compensation paid to one deputy, which is being checked by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB).
Where compensation will be regulated
The explanatory annotation says deputies' compensation will in future be covered by the law on remuneration of officials and employees of state and local government institutions. This, it says, would create a unified and systematic legal framework. The annotation stresses that the amendments do not set new compensation amounts or conditions for awarding them, but change the legal act in which these matters are regulated.
Changes to electing officials
The bill also refines how members of the Saeima Presidium and other officials are elected. If only one candidate is nominated for a post, no ballot-paper vote will be held. If there are more candidates than posts to be filled, the candidate who receives the most votes, and at least an absolute majority of the deputies present, will be considered elected.
Next steps
The committee has asked for the bill to be placed on the agenda of the Saeima sitting on 15 October and examined in the first reading without being reconsidered by the responsible committee. Committee chair Andrejs Judins of the New Unity party (JV) said the bill was drafted at committee meetings on 13 and 14 October, attended also by representatives of the Saeima Legal Bureau, the Ministry of Justice and the State Chancellery.
Background
Information emerged publicly about a housing rental compensation paid to deputy Leila Rasima (P). KNAB has launched an internal departmental check into whether it was justified. The bureau has previously said the current compensation rules contain shortcomings that could allow the system to be abused.
