Center Party tops Parliament expense claims rankings
Three Center Party MPs and one IRL Parliament member used up their Parliament expense and benefits accounts to the last cent in the first six months after the elections. Priit Toobal, Martin Repinski, Olga Ivanova and Einar Vallbaum (IRL) all spent the maximum allowed. That figure was 3,368 euros for all except for Vallbaum, who is a replacement MP, but spent all he was due during his stay in Parliament.
Marika Ruus-Laul (Center Party) had seven cents left over with Mailis Reps (Center Party) and Jaak Aaviksoo (IRL) leaving 25 and 31 euros respectively unused, Postimees calculated, adding that Eiki Nestor (SDE) and Helir-Valdor Seeder (IRL) were at the other end of the spectrum, with 330 and 360 euros spent respectively.
A total of 223,031 euros was paid out to MPs, on top of the 3,444-euro gross monthly salary each member receives, since the March 1 elections, with around two thirds (158,000 euros) filed under travel expenses, with representation expenses (32,000), communication and postage (19,000), office (6,000) and housing (4,000 euros) also high on the list.
Editor: J.M. Laats