The MPs put a cap on the allowances granted to local elected officials. A relevant bill was passed in the first reading on March 21. It provides that the allowance for attending a meeting will be at most 500 lei, IPN reports.

Bill author, MP Gheorghe Brashovski said the legislation currently stipulates that a local councilor receives an allowance of at least two minimum salaries. But this provision was adopted in 2001, when the minimum salary was 18 lei. Now the minimum salary varies according to the profession. For civil servants it is 800 lei.

The lawmaker said the local councils in some settlements significantly increase the allowances. For example, in small settlements it is 50 lei per meeting, while in Chisinau – 2,000 lei.

A number of MPs suggested not placing a cap, but specifying that the allowance will be within the amounts available in the local budgets. The proposals will be put to the vote in the second reading.