Salary Surcharge for MPs

Azerbaijani MPs finally achieved an increase in salary: by the Milli Majlis decision it was increased by 10%. Prior to the increase, the Milli Majlis speaker received AZN 2,250, and ordinary MPs received AZN 1,575. Now the chairman of the parliament will receive AZN 225 more, and the MPs will receive AZN 157 more.

Last year, people's representatives began to openly express their dissatisfaction with the level of their salary, trying to achieve its increase. At the beginning of the year, they almost succeeded. The surcharge was expected to be a real one - it was outlined in the amount of 800 manat, but the news turned out to be false, and the MPs did not succeed. This time the MPs were lucky, and a few days ago when discussing the introduction of amendments to the laws "On the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman)", "On the Status of a Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan", "On the Constitutional Court", and "On Courts and Judges" it was decided to increase the salaries of MPs, the Ombudsman and judges. However, not all people's representatives were happy with the increase.

Deputy Gudrat Hasanguliyev considered that 10% is too small, saying that the salary of MPs should be 8,000 manat. He explained this with devaluation, and stressed that high salaries are a shield against corruption. The dissatisfied MP however, for some reason, did not touch upon the issue of raising the salaries of other state employees - doctors, teachers, etc., who at the moment earn six times less than MPs. According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, a surgeon's salary in the country is AZN 228, and a teacher"s salary is AZN 465. For comparison, an MP in Germany receives almost EUR 109,000 a year. The sum is, of course, considerable, several times the salary of the Azerbaijani parliamentarian, but the salary of a German MP is less than twice the average income of a doctor (EUR 66,000 per year). Why are the incomes of the Azerbaijani MPs strikingly different from those of other state employees?

The economist Natig Jafarli believes the high salaries of MPs and officials are normal and even useful in the sense of fighting corruption: "The problem is that the minimum wage and pensions in the country are so small that, against their backdrop, complaints of MPs about their small earnings give rise to popular discontent. These complaints sound absurd, because the salaries of 300,000 teachers are around AZN 240-250, which is about seven times less than the monthly incomes of MPs. This is a violation of the social justice principle. In some European countries there are unwritten rules on which the salary of an MP and a minister should not exceed 5 times the average salary of the population. The work of MPs in Europe is also well paid, but there is a reason for this - they are elected by taxpayers and represent their interests in parliament. In Azerbaijan, however, no normal elections have been held so far. And the people do not consider the MPs as their representatives. Therefore, the population is angry about raising the salaries of such MPs. The initiative of 96% of all bills comes from the Presidential Administration. That is, bills do not come from MPs. They perform the function of a notary. The root of the problem is this," the economist noted.

The expert added that the authorities deliberately do not bring the salaries of doctors and teachers to a normal level.

"There are two reasons for this. Salaries of both teachers and MPs increase by 10%. It's just that the salaries of MPs are so high that 10% of them turn into a fairly large amount - about 200 manat. Doctors and teachers who earn 250-300 manat a month receive an increase of 25-30 manat, that is practically nothing. In addition, there are unwritten norms of behavior in the country. The authorities turn a blind eye to the charges in schools, universities and hospitals, as well as the tutoring activities of teachers. In return, their salaries are not raised and they are attracted to a kind of "help" in elections. And at most, everyone is happy. Experts talk more about the small salaries of state employees than they themselves do. Logically, teachers and doctors have long had to gather, send an appeal to the government in connection with their small salaries, and create a trade union. However, none of the above is done, which confirms the existence of a gentlemen's agreement between the authorities and state employees," Natig Jafarli stressed.