Valainis: Saeima MPs' salaries are too high, should be frozen

Viktors Valainis, the Union of Greens and Farmers' (ZZS) candidate for prime minister and Latvia's current economy minister, has publicly commented on the pay of Saeima deputies. In his view, the current salary level for members of parliament is disproportionately high.

Valainis said ZZS would be willing to support freezing deputies' salaries, meaning halting further increases to their current pay, at least for the time being.

Context

The issue of lawmakers' pay periodically sparks public debate in Latvia, particularly when the state budget or wages in other sectors are being decided. Valainis's statement comes as he, in his role as ZZS's prime ministerial candidate, is voicing positions on a range of governance-related issues.

It is not yet known whether or when a proposal to freeze deputies' salaries might be formally considered by the Saeima or other decision-making bodies.