BRATISLAVA, May 9, (WEBNOVINY) — The head of the Ordinary People movement and independent MP Igor Matovic has turned down widely spread allegations that his appeals on political parties to reduce the number of Members of Parliament are aimed at attracting attention to his plan to set up his own party. Both the coalition and opposition camps do not agree with his suggestion. “They have to seek pretexts, they will ridicule us, because at least half of deputies does nothing in parliament, they are work-shies,” Matovic told SITA. This is how he reasons his amendment to the constitution seeking to reduce the current 150 deputy seats to 79. He has already submitted it to parliament.
The change in the number of deputy mandates however would call the need for changes to further laws, for example that on the parliamentary elections. „Its current wording counts on 150 elected members of parliament. Matovic is aware of that but he does not think that it is necessary to submit all laws needing rectification to the parliament at once. “It is necessary to change the constitution first. Why should we do twenty things [at once]?” he asks.
Matovic and his three mates from the Ordinary People movement who are members of the SaS deputy club have submitted a brief amendment to the constitution to parliament aiming at cutting the number of MPs from 150 to 79 as of the next election term. According to their calculations the state would save over EUR 30 million within four years if the measure is implemented. To approve an amendment to the constitution requires three-fifths majority however none of parliamentary political parties has voiced support to the proposal. Parliament will have Matovic’s proposal on the agenda at its next session starting on May 17.
SITA
