Petition seeks end to Latvian MPs’ housing and transport compensation

More than one million euros has been paid from Latvia’s state budget to cover housing and transport costs for members of the 14th Saeima in less than four years, LSM reported. A new petition on the ManaBalss.lv public initiative portal is calling for the compensation system to be abolished.

The debate has focused on fairness, public trust and whether politicians are prepared to set an example by tightening their own belts. Many people pay for commuting and living in another city themselves.

The initiative was submitted by Andis Feldmanis, an Emergency Medical Service employee and deputy chair of the board of the Latvian Health and Social Care Workers Trade Union. He called on MPs to show solidarity with the public.

“Why should MPs be more privileged than the rest of the population?” Feldmanis said. In his view, serving as an MP should be an honour and a contribution to the state, nation and society, rather than a way to earn money.

This is not the first initiative seeking changes to MPs’ compensation. Several similar proposals have been submitted on the portal in recent years, but the Saeima has not supported any of them.

The total amount paid has not changed significantly compared with previous parliamentary terms. However, MPs use the system differently: about half do not claim the compensation, while others have received tens of thousands of euros.

Saeima factions argue that the payments allow MPs from Latvia’s regions to work on equal terms with those living in Riga or near the capital. The compensation is intended to cover expenses arising from MPs’ duties, and its maximum amount depends on their declared place of residence, with the distance from Riga taken into account.