Public opinion is divided on the operating budget of the Algerian Parliament for 2010, which stands at nearly 5 billion dinars for the lower chamber alone.
By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers – 10/12/09
Algerian MPs are increasing their burden on the public purse. The 4.7 billion-dinar 2010 operating budget for the National Popular Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament, is almost 1 billion dinars more than last year.
An official document obtained early this month by Magharebia shows that 2010 will bring specific pay hikes for members of Parliament, including an increase from 130,000 dinars to 290,000 dinars, under a decree signed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2008.
During his term, an Algerian MP receives this base salary, known as the main allowance, to which other provisions can be added based on special responsibilities and vehicle usage.
For automobile purchases, MPs are granted access to interest-free five-year loans of up to 100,000 dinars. The state also covers any housing expenses and pays a portion of telephone bills.
In the 2010 budget, signed October 19th, 178 million dinars are set aside for accommodation, 30 million for international activities (visits by delegations and fees to international organizations), 82 million for eating out, 79 million for the car fleet, and 10 million for clothing.
While the state has proved itself "generous", in the words of Abderrahmane Saidi, Islamist MP representing the Movement of Society for Peace, it remains intransigent on the issue of diplomatic passports.
"I can't understand why the authorities refuse to issue diplomatic passports to those elected to Parliament, despite the many requests placed before them," he said. Saidi said it was "inconceivable that an MP representing his country during his travels should be treated in the same way – and sometimes worse – than the public at international airports".
While elected representatives unanimously support the issuance of diplomatic passports, they are divided on the question of pay.
The Labor Party in particular opposes the increase in MPs' salaries. In a recent statement, the party called it "inconceivable that allowances should be revised upwards when more than 20% of the population is living below the poverty line".
The year-on-year increase in parliamentary expenditure is viewed differently by the public and by specialists.
Ahmed Anwar, a specialist in parliamentary law, noted that Algerian MPs are among the lowest-paid legislators in the world. "It's worth pointing out," he said, "that a white-collar worker in an international telecommunications company is better paid than an MP."
Anwar said that representatives should also be afforded a certain "status". "I feel it's important that an MP, as a legislator, should be properly remunerated," he said.
The public often takes a different view. "It's not right for MPs to receive 40 times the pay of an average Algerian," said Ilham, 25. "As the people's elected representatives, I feel they should be close to the people. I'd rather they demanded an increase in pay for the average citizen than ask for their own salaries and expenses to be increased."
By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers – 10/12/09
Algerian MPs are increasing their burden on the public purse. The 4.7 billion-dinar 2010 operating budget for the National Popular Assembly, the lower chamber of Parliament, is almost 1 billion dinars more than last year.
An official document obtained early this month by Magharebia shows that 2010 will bring specific pay hikes for members of Parliament, including an increase from 130,000 dinars to 290,000 dinars, under a decree signed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2008.
During his term, an Algerian MP receives this base salary, known as the main allowance, to which other provisions can be added based on special responsibilities and vehicle usage.
For automobile purchases, MPs are granted access to interest-free five-year loans of up to 100,000 dinars. The state also covers any housing expenses and pays a portion of telephone bills.
In the 2010 budget, signed October 19th, 178 million dinars are set aside for accommodation, 30 million for international activities (visits by delegations and fees to international organizations), 82 million for eating out, 79 million for the car fleet, and 10 million for clothing.
While the state has proved itself "generous", in the words of Abderrahmane Saidi, Islamist MP representing the Movement of Society for Peace, it remains intransigent on the issue of diplomatic passports.
"I can't understand why the authorities refuse to issue diplomatic passports to those elected to Parliament, despite the many requests placed before them," he said. Saidi said it was "inconceivable that an MP representing his country during his travels should be treated in the same way – and sometimes worse – than the public at international airports".
While elected representatives unanimously support the issuance of diplomatic passports, they are divided on the question of pay.
The Labor Party in particular opposes the increase in MPs' salaries. In a recent statement, the party called it "inconceivable that allowances should be revised upwards when more than 20% of the population is living below the poverty line".
The year-on-year increase in parliamentary expenditure is viewed differently by the public and by specialists.
Ahmed Anwar, a specialist in parliamentary law, noted that Algerian MPs are among the lowest-paid legislators in the world. "It's worth pointing out," he said, "that a white-collar worker in an international telecommunications company is better paid than an MP."
Anwar said that representatives should also be afforded a certain "status". "I feel it's important that an MP, as a legislator, should be properly remunerated," he said.
The public often takes a different view. "It's not right for MPs to receive 40 times the pay of an average Algerian," said Ilham, 25. "As the people's elected representatives, I feel they should be close to the people. I'd rather they demanded an increase in pay for the average citizen than ask for their own salaries and expenses to be increased."
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