MPs in Bosnia Richest Relatively in Europe

In impoverished Bosnia, MPs are to be envied. Parliamentarians earn no less than than six times the average wage.

It makes them the best paid parliamentarians in Europe in terms of comparison to average wages, the Banja Luka-based Center for research and studies, Gea, said.

“Lawmakers in Bosnia receive more than six times the average salary - and by that measurement are in first position compared to 30 other European countries in our analysis,” Gea said recently.

Ognjen Djukic, a researcher of Gea, told Balkan Insight on March 14 that the average parliamentarian in Western Europe earned just a little over twice the average salary in his or her respective country.

Gea's analysis shows that in Germany, for example, a lawmaker earns just over twice the average German salary.

“Of course, in absolute terms, the German MP's salary is higher, but when you compare it like this, it is smaller than a Bosnian MP's,” Djukic said.

Many political parties have proposed initiatives to lower MPs' salaries. “We had recommendations back in 2009 to lower their salaries to no more than three average salaries, and abolish other, hidden ways of payments, such as fees,” Djukic recalled.

However, nothing has happened. Indeed, the Bosnian constitution protects elected officials from attempts to lower their wages during their terms in office.

Almir Terzic, a journalist from Oslobodjenje who follows the work of the state parliament, said a few new initiatives and law proposals were currently in procedure.

But most were just attempts to buy time and score a few political points in the lead-up to the next election, Terzic said.

“The attempts made in the last eight years were enough time to show...