Retired MPs claiming 80 mln euros in back pay
Dozens of retired MPs are trying to claim a combined total of some 80 million euros in back pay and pension payments, court officials have revealed.
Florentia Kaldi, a judge at the Court of Audit, told a parliamentary committee that some 800 former lawmakers who served in Parliament between 2003 and 2008 have taken legal action to demand the money.
They are basing their action on a law passed in 2008 which ruled that MPs should receive pay that is equal to the salaries of the country?s top judges.
Parliament has so far voted for the pay rises not to come into effect but Kaldi informed the House?s Institutions and Transparency Committee that there are between 800 and 850 legal cases pending.
The former MPs are claiming that they have received smaller pensions and less pay than they were entitled to as a result of Parliament not applying the law on their wages.
They also claim that since they are no longer serving MPs, they are not bound by Parliament?s commitment not to apply the law to increase deputies? wages.
