MP should not walk around in torn pants and be beggar. MP Burmich explains increase in payments to MPs

Member of Parliament, former member of the banned political force Opposition Platform - For Life, Anatolii Burmich reacted to the Verkhovna Rada's increase in payments to MPs by UAH 120,000.

He said this on the air of the Novyny Live TV channel, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

Burmich explained that the salaries of MPs were raised by UAH 3,000, and all other funds are "sustenance". According to Burmich, there is "a lot of populism" around the issue of increasing payments to MPs.

"They want to make MP guilty, poor, a beggar: it is very easy to manage him like that. MP must be independent, and in order for him to be independent, he must not walk around in torn pants and run around like a beggar," the politician noted.

Burmich explained that the salaries of MPs were increased by a total of UAH 3,000. He himself receives a salary of UAH 50,000. "Our salaries were increased by UAH 3,000: the salary was UAH 30,000, they made UAH 33,000. With all the allowances, I have a salary of UAH 50,000, everything else is maintenance," the official said.

As Burmich explained, the funds for maintenance are used to pay the salaries of assistants, as well as related expenses, such as trips, etc. "I maintain a driver, one of my assistants receives UAH 50,000, and the second UAH 42,000. We maintain an office, trips, hotels - no one pays for it, it's all paid for from the money that was in maintenance," the MP said.

Previously, according to him, UAH 63,000 were allocated for the maintenance of MP, but this was not enough.

"Before this resolution, UAH 63,000 were allocated for the maintenance of the MP, but this is catastrophically not enough, because all these expenses come from this money. Or if you want, pay from your salary of UAH 50,000, then go with a bag to find a piece of bread for yourself somewhere," Burmich explained.

He also emphasized that the MPs should be independent, and for this he should have enough funds, since this is his "face". This is particularly important for official meetings, trips, etc.

"Say that MPs are very fancy? Yes, there are those who are fancy, they live on sponsorship money, then they are not an independent MP, but a dependent, they are a lobbyist. And MPs, I believe, should be independent, as in all European or other countries. He lives and can show that he has enough salary to keep a driver, he does not drive a Zaporozhets, but a normal car, because this is a face. He meets with international organizations, representatives, colleagues," Burmich noted.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved a decision to increase monthly funding for MPs by UAH 120,000. 257 MPs voted for his resolution.