Valainis: Lawmakers' salaries are disproportionately high

Economy Minister Viktors Valainis, the Union of Greens and Farmers' (ZZS) candidate for prime minister, has said that current salaries for Saeima deputies are disproportionately high, adding that his party would support freezing them.

Speaking on the LETA podcast "Politiķi! Kas tas vispār bija?", Valainis said lawmakers' pay should correspond to the country's overall socioeconomic situation, calling the current level too high.

Allowances still defended

While criticizing salary levels, Valainis defended the transport and housing expense allowances paid to ZZS deputies. He noted that most of the party's representatives live in the regions and travel long distances daily to reach their workplace in Riga. He also expressed concern that regional representation in parliament is shrinking while the influence of deputies elected from Riga is growing.

Initiative to scrap the allowances

In August, more than 10,000 signatures were collected on the ManaBalss.lv platform for an initiative to abolish deputies' transport and housing rental compensation, meaning the collective submission will now go before the Saeima. The initiative's author, Andis Feldmanis, deputy chairman of the Latvian Trade Union of Health and Social Care Workers, argues there is no objective reason for deputies to be in a more favorable position than other public and municipal sector employees, and that the saved budget funds could be redirected to other public needs.

Deputies can currently receive a combined allowance for housing rental and transport costs, including public transport use. The maximum allowance is set based on a deputy's declared place of residence, and the Saeima only reimburses actual expenses within the assigned limit. The allowed compensation amounts are calculated using the average wage from two years prior combined with coefficients set out in the Saeima's rules of procedure. The system was designed so that a deputy's place of residence does not affect their ability to perform their duties, ensuring those elected from more distant regions are not disadvantaged compared to Riga residents.