Additional 279 Million Drams Allocated for 27 Newly Mandated MPs

The 7th convocation of the National Assembly of Armenia will include 132 members, an increase from the previous 105. Tert.am has calculated how much additional burden will be placed on the state budget from the salaries of these 27 new MPs and their assistants.

According to the Electoral Code, the National Assembly consists of a minimum of 101 members. The 6th convocation had 105 members and, according to the constitutional requirement, ensured 30% opposition representation. In addition to the minimum of 101, 4 mandates were added for national minorities.

Based on the results of the snap parliamentary elections, the “My Step” alliance received 70.44% of the votes, and as a result, additional mandates will be allocated in the Assembly to provide adequate opposition representation for non-governmental forces. The “My Step” alliance will have 88 mandates, the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will have 26, and the Bright Armenia Party (LHK) will have 18, ensuring one-third of the parliament is composed of opposition.

According to the Republic of Armenia law “On the remuneration of public officials,” the exempt salary of an MP is 661,400 drams. Moreover, the exempt salary for an assistant to an MP is 198,420 drams.

For the additional 27 MPs, the state budget will allocate an extra 17,857,800 drams monthly, which totals 214,293,600 drams annually. Over the entire 5-year term of the 7th convocation, the total salaries for the 27 MPs will amount to 1,071,468,000 drams.

For each assistant to an MP, there will be an allocation of 5,357,340 drams monthly, amounting to 64,288,080 drams annually.

Thus, the budget will allocate an additional 278,581,680 drams annually for the 27 additional MPs and their assistants,” reports the media outlet.