Freezing of constitutional officials' salaries back on the agenda next week

Smer party's MPs will support a salary freeze for constitutional officials and will seek support from its coalition partners, as well as from the Opposition, their leader announced on Thursday. It sees a solution in revising the income tax law that is currently on its second reading in Parliament. Smer MPs changed their mind on the salary freeze after Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) promised them that the issue of state officials with the highest salaries would be tackled. Originally, MPs were supposed to freeze salaries via fast-track proceedings by means of a separate law. However, only 32 MPs voted for such proceedings. The prime minister then said that if MPs did not change their minds, he would be ready to link the vote on salaries to a no-confidence motion in the Government. This statement was subsequently criticised by the coalition partners, the Slovak National Party and Most-Hid. 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. Were MPs not to have their salaries frozen again, their incomes would swell by some €1,000.