SLOVAKIA is spending four times more money on its politicians than it did a decade ago.
While 10 years ago one MP cost Slovak taxpayers Sk465,000 (€12,400) a year, the figure is now nearly Sk2 million, the Pravda daily wrote on March 20.
In contrast, spending on healthcare and education has risen by only 1.6 and 1.8 times, respectively, in the same period.
According to economic analysts, politicians are not increasing their productivity, so there is no reason that increasingly higher public funds should be spent on them.
"When salaries are increasing, analysts usually complain they are outstripping labour productivity. The state is spending increasingly more on politicians, while their productivity is abysmal," economist Peter Staněk told the daily.
According to the Fair Play Alliance NGO, while politicians are diverting more state funds for themselves, there are no effective controls on party funding, as is apparent from the parties' financial reports. Political parties are obliged to submit financial reports every year, but they tend to be very general, offering limited insight into party spending and income.
- Martina Jurinová
