Rajoy calls for an end to extra pension supplements for lawmakers

Popular Party (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy on Saturday touched on a controversial issue that has made many lawmakers unhappy: how to cut the supplemental pensions paid to politicians who have served as deputies and senators.

Without clarifying the formula he wants to use, Rajoy said he would ask Congress to revise the compensation system and remove anything that could be interpreted or seen as a "privilege" compared to what other citizens are entitled to. Rajoy's proposal comes just as the government is negotiating a broad pension reform plan with the unions and other political parties, including raising the retirement age from 65 to 67.

Until recently, the PP was quick to attack any criticism about the benefits, saying that it was nothing more than pure demagoguery.

"When you are asking for sacrifices from the public, you have to be careful"

But now it appears that the PP has radically changed its position on the issue. From the introduction of the benefits in 2006, the PP had backed the measure at all times.

Rosa Díez, Union Progreso y Democratica (UPyD) leader, was the first to come out against giving former lawmakers additional benefits. Last year, she sent a letter to the commissions in both chambers demanding the removal of these supplements. On December 21, both chambers rejected her petition.

Many deputies - including those belonging to the PP - are upset by the controversy that has been recently unfolding.

The pension supplement system was, in fact, introduced as a measure to help lawmakers who have economic difficulties - but they are a minority. They can only collect the supplementary pensions when they reach their retirement age and not from when they end their tenure in parliament, as many believe.

The vast majority of lawmakers earn their pensions through their own contributions made as high-paid professionals outside public service.

According to a letter to Congress president José Bono sent to all members last February, since 1977 there have been 3,609 members of parliament, of which only 70 have asked for the pension supplement at an average of 1,066 eurosper month.

Nevertheless, Rajoy's proposal won support on Saturday, including among members of the Socialist ranks. Castilla-La Mancha regional premier, José María Barreda, said the measure "is not a bad one."

"When you are asking for sacrifices from the general public and workers, you have to be very careful," Barreda said.

But despite this public support, there are detractors. Even some in the PP have privately expressed their doubts about Rajoy's proposal. They also blame the media for bringing up the issue and conjuring public pressure, which has forced them to react.

The PP leader, however, has come out against cutting the lifetime salaries given to former prime ministers. Gaspar Llamazares, of the United Left (IU) first made the call after former Prime Ministers Felipe González and José María Aznar announced that they had joined the boards of energy firms.