The legislative proposal to reduce the salaries of MPs following their augmentation at the start of this year cannot be adopted without the Government’s appraisal as the changes to the state budget are made only this way, deputy chairman of the Democratic parliamentary group Vladimir Cebotari stated for IPN, commenting on Prime Minister Ion Chicu’s assertion that he will not support a bill to cut MPs’ salaries.

Vladimir Cebotari, who drafted the amendment to the state budget law by which the pays of MPs were raised by about 4,000 lei, said that for the PDM it was important to equalize the grades based on which the salaries are determined.

“If the salaries of MPs are to be reduced, we consider that what is important is the way in which this is done and also the keeping of hierarchy. The pays for other public posts should also be rectified,” stated Vladimir Cebotari.

Contacted by IPN for a comment, Socialist MP Vasile Bolea said he can comment only on the official positions of the Government presented in documents, but believes that the Government will ultimately approve of this move. “Did the Premier see the bill? What does this stipulate and what is the mechanism? We should not speculate on such issues. Let’s wait for this to be examined first,” he noted, adding he cannot say if the Party of Socialists introduced this bill into Parliament or not.

Igor Grosu, head of the PAS group of the ACUM Bloc, has told IPN that the rise in MPs’ salaries points to the Government’s hypocrisy as this and “its friends” included this amendment to the state budget law in secret when the first and second readings were given. In this connection, the expenses of President Igor Dodon should also be discussed. “This President costs us a lot. If such an amendment is proposed, the costs incurred by the President should also be cut,” stated the MP.

A number of MPs of the PAS group of the ACUM Bloc announced that the pays of MPs were raised by about 4,000 lei following the adoption of a relevant amendment to the 2020 state budget law. The amendment was drafted by Democratic MP Vladimir Cebotari. Later, the Socialist MPs said they will formulate a legislative proposal to annul the rise in MPs’ salaries or, more exactly, to restore the old salaries.

Following the rise, the MPs get salaries of almost 18,000 lei.