The Speaker of the Seimas will invite the elders to find solutions regarding parliamentary expenses

The leader of the Parliament also mentions possible amendments to the Constitution.

“I will invite the elders of the factions to discuss not only possible cosmetic changes that the Ethics Commission might also propose, but how we might fundamentally change the procedure. I would see several options, through amendments to the laws or considering the amendment of the Constitution, abandoning the procedure for parliamentary expenses”, V. Čmilytė-Nielsen informed on Wednesday during the session of the Seimas board.

She said that the factions of the Seimas need to find a solution to ensure that there are no “conditions to slip with this order” in the future.

Jurgis Razma, the First Vice-Chairman of the Seimas, for his part, said that changing the Constitution by renouncing the expenses for parliamentary activities included in it and instead raising the salaries of Seimas members would be a “good option”, but certain decisions are needed even now.

“I think it would be a good option if the factions agreed to change the Constitution, leave the salaries of the members of the Seimas and that’s it, no parliamentary expenses with settlements, but it is obvious that even if we move in an orderly manner with the amendments, they will only come into force for the next term, however, there are some issues to sort out with the current description, supplementing it”, said J. Razma.

After the member of the public Andriis Tapinas extended the “Skaidrina” initiative and began to examine the use of the funds allocated to the members of the Seimas, it became clear that part of the money allocated for their parliamentary activities was spent on expensive equipment, which, it is doubtful, is compatible with their direct work. It is also assumed that the parliamentarians hastened to purchase this equipment near the end of the period during which the purchased items remain the property of the members of the Seimas following the end of the term.

Members of the Seimas are allocated a monthly amount of 0.8 of the average monthly salary for expenses related to their parliamentary activities: rent of an office, computer equipment, communication services, transport costs, car operation, souvenirs, services of public information producers and the like.

Members of the Seimas spent more than 2 million for parliamentary activities last year. euros, according to the report of the Ethics and Procedures Commission of the Seimas. Practically the same amount was used in 2022.

During the past year, each member of the Seimas might use 18.5 thousand for parliamentary activities. euros, almost the entire amount was spent by more than half a dozen parliamentarians.

There were discussions in the Seimas to waive expenses allocated to parliamentary activities, instead simply increasing the salaries of Seimas members, but this initiative did not move forward, because the reimbursement of expenses allocated to parliamentary activities is provided for in the Constitution, and more complicated and longer procedures are provided for its change than for other legal acts.

The Constitution stipulates that the work of a member of the Seimas, as well as expenses related to his parliamentary activities, are paid from the state budget.