This thursday a significant reduction in the monthly budget for each deputy was announced, which will go from US$11,000 to US$8,000 as of january 2025. This measure seeks to adjust the current allocations and responds to the need to implement a more efficient fiscal management.
During the conference, the President of the Legislative Assembly, Ernesto Castro, also compared the salaries of deputies with those of other professions, noting that it is common for communicators and youtubers to earn more than doctors. “That is something normal all over the world, not just in our country”, he said, suggesting that the salary disparity is a global phenomenon.
In spite of the budget reduction, Castro ruled out the possibility of reducing the salary of the deputies. When consulted on the matter, he indicated that no analysis has been made on this option and that, for the time being, it is not contemplated. “We do not have any analysis and we have not thought about it”, he said.
The decision to adjust the budget for deputies is framed in a context of appropriations review and seeks to reflect a commitment to fiscal responsibility, although the situation of legislators’ salaries is still not under discussion.