Centre Party Seeks to Punish Absentee MPs While Often Missing Sessions Itself

The Centre Party proposed reducing parliamentary salaries for MPs who attend fewer than 85 percent of Riigikogu sessions. Critics argue the proposal does not reflect actual parliamentary work and appears timed with the upcoming elections.

The Centre Party tabled a proposal in the Riigikogu to cut MPs' salaries if they fail to attend at least 85 percent of parliamentary sessions. The stated aim is to ensure better attendance and accountability of people's representatives to voters.

However, critics quickly point out that session attendance is not the same as doing parliamentary work. Much of MPs' work takes place in committees, negotiations, meetings with constituents, and other formats that do not appear in session attendance statistics. Such a measure would therefore be superficial and unfair.

Poor precedent being set

Ironically, the Centre Party itself does not stand out for particularly good attendance at parliamentary sessions. Its own MPs' attendance has repeatedly left much to be desired, making the proposal seem rather hypocritical in holding others to stricter standards.

Most analysts and other parties consider the proposal unlikely to pass; it will probably not gather sufficient support in the Riigikogu. Nevertheless, the proposal itself indirectly acknowledges that the question of representatives' accountability is a serious matter worth addressing in a more substantive way.

With elections in mind

Several political observers note that the proposal's timing is questionable, coming as elections approach. The Centre Party wants to present itself as a responsible force demanding transparency, without having to improve its own attendance record. Such populist proposals are part of broader pre-election rhetoric whose actual impact on genuine parliamentary work is difficult to foresee.