Report Shames Macedonia's Absent MPs

Macedonian parliament

Macedonians are mulling the dismal attendance record of some of their MPs - whose no-show behaviour has no impact on their salaries.

According to parliament’s MPs’ performance report, published twice a year, Xhaferi, a honorary leader of the ethnic Albanian opposition Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, was the worst offender.

He was absent for 67 days when parliament was in session. During that time he naturally filed no motions or participated in discussions.

Depending on their involvement in various committees, Macedonian legislators earn between €1,000 and €1,100 a month. Thus, all MPs earned at least €6,000 in the first six months after parliament started its term. Average monthly salaries in the country are around €350.

Xhaferi is not the only offender in terms of no-shows. His party boss, Menduh Thaci,  during the same period showed up only twice. Fijat Canovski, head of the small opposition Party for a Democratic Future, showed up in the assembly three times.

Ali Ahmeti, leader of the junior party in the ruling coalition, Democratic Union for Integration, was listed as present on five days.

Some MPs say they are stung by criticism of their attendance records. “ A legislator’s work is not just about attending sessions,” the DPA spokesperson Arianit Hoxha said.

“Last year our party leaders covered a lot of ground, held meetings with people and their offices for contact with the electors were always open,” he added.

Of the 123 legislators, 30 were present at all sessions. They included the Speaker, Trajko Veljanovski.

The first MPs’ performance report was published in 2007 by the local NGO MOST as a tool designed to make members of parliament more accountable to citizens. More recently parliament has started publishing its own reports.