Coalition leaders agree to freeze MPs' salaries again this year

Lawmakers will see their salaries frozen this year, following a decision made at the Coalition Council meeting on Monday. MPs currently earn a gross salary of €1,961 per month plus flat-rate expenses depending on their official domicile. MPs from the Bratislava region thus earn €3,346 per month, while the rest make €3,576. The parliamentary chairman, vice-chairs, chiefs of parliamentary committees and their vice-chairs receive extra money as well. If MPs didn't have their salaries frozen again, their incomes would swell by some €1,000. Lawmakers' salaries have been at the same level since 2011. If they are frozen next year as well, MPs will have to approve this at the next parliamentary session, the last to take place this year. For this to happen, the proposal will have to be submitted by the government, which can ask Parliament to adopt it in fast-track proceedings. Last year, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) argued the need to continue consolidation measures. He expected that €3.5 million would be saved thanks to the salary freeze at that time. The Opposition wanted to put an end to salary freezes last year. It proposed a change thanks to which MPs salaries wouldn't be frozen every year, but their pay wouldn't grow very much. They wanted to make this possible via a reduction in flat-rate expenses for lawmakers and their taxation. However, the Opposition's proposal failed to make it through.