In a story that is sure to cause a minor kerfuffle in a country where politicians are believed to be not only corrupt but incompetent, MPs are receiving the full amount of their salaries during the summer recess, Napi.hu learned from the economy directorate of Parliament. As relevant laws say Parliament is not listed as an employer, the issues of vacation pay are never discussed. This also means that the number of days MPs spend on vacation is not recorded anywhere.
MPs’ base fee is Ft 231,000 (€966), six times that of public servants, although this amount is more than doubled by an additional flat reimbursement for accommodation and travel expenses. All MPs living further than 50 kilometers from Budapest receive Ft 116,000 for accommodation and Ft 140,000 for travel expenses monthly.
An MP not holding any additional positions receives Ft 487,000 a month even during the summer recess. Additional fees can be received for positions in various parliamentary bodies. Members of committees receive Ft 162,000, while leaders of parliamentary groups pocket Ft 280,000, for example. Attila Mesterházy, deputy caucus leader of the Socialist Party, receives Ft 900,000, while Fidesz caucus leader Tibor Navracsics pockets as much as Ft 980,000 – even during “cucumber season“.
State President László Sólyom went on vacation last week. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány will go on vacation next month, which he will spend in Ireland and Balatonőszöd. While he is away, his tasks will be performed by Chancellery Minister Péter Kiss, who will then take a two-week break in the second half of July. Minister of National Development and Economy Gordon Bajnai will start his ten-day vacation on July 2, and Minister of Secret Services György Szilvásy will go away for two or three weeks also next month.
Minister of Defense Imre Szekeres will spend the first week of the Olympic Games in Beijing, as he is also the chairman of the Hungarian Triathlon Association. István Gyenesei, in charge of sports, will also travel to Beijing but start his vacation earlier, on July 14. Minister of Culture István Hiller will be away in the first two weeks of August, while Minister of Environment Imre Szabó and Minister of Justice Tibor Draskovics will take one week off in July and one or two weeks in August.
