European Parliamentary elections: Parties fear mass abstention in Spain
European Parliamentary elections: Parties fear mass abstention in Spain
MEPS: What do they do and how much do they get paid?
MEMBERS of European Parliament, or MEPs spend four days a week away from home as part of their normal duties – but in compensation, they receive a salary totalling around 8,000 euros a month.
But despite their sizeable pay packets, they have failed to win over the Spanish public as yet – so widespread is 'abstention fever' that the central government has forbidden any parties from 'inviting' residents to vote on their campaign posters, considering that every citizen has the right to choose not to vote.
And although anti-Europe independent party UKIP has won an unprecedented number of votes in the British local elections this week, with a referendum on EU membership due to be held in the autumn of 2017, Spanish citizens are said to be even more Euro-sceptic – only 41 per cent said in surveys that they trusted the European Union and felt it was a good idea to be part of it, compared to nearly 50 per cent of Britons.
Also, according to the last EuroBarometer, 81 per cent of Spaniards say they know little or nothing about what goes on within the EU.
Today's elections are marked by the threat of abstention, by an influx of new, minority independent parties – including Vox, led by former PP member of Parliament Alejo Vidal-Quadras - as well as the PP attempting to repair the damage caused by its candidate, Miguel Arias Cañete's remark about men's intellectual superiority and the rival PSOE milking this comment for all it is worth.
Yesterday was the traditional 'day of reflection', during which all politicians vying for the vote are obliged to cease their campaign and take the day off.
PSOE candidate for Europe, Elena Valenciano spent the day strolling around Madrid with her two sisters, whilst Miguel Arias Cañete, former minister of agriculture turned MEP candidate, was caught on video cycling around Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) with his wife, Micaela Domecq.
Facts about MEPs: What they earn
A typical MEP is male and aged 51, with previous experience in politics and knowledge, or academic qualifications in, business, law, economics or social sciences.
Their net monthly salary comes in at 6,250 euros a month, with fixed expenses of 304 euros a day for costs such as travelling, hotels and meals, and up to an additional 4,299 euros a month in expenses which they do not have provide evidence for.
Some use these 4,299 euros to employ staff, such as consultants or personal assistants, but some use it purely for their own benefit.
These funds have to cover their own office and employee expenses, but if any is left over, the MEP can pocket it without having to prove where it has gone.
With a gross wage of 8,020 euros a month, an average MEP earns a net 100,000 euros a year.
Each journey they are required to make in the course of business is payable up to the maximum price of a business-class airline ticket, first-class train ticket or 50 cents per kilometre if the trip is made by car.
Income tax is payable at source, although some MEPs have to pay additional income tax in their country of residence – the Spanish government has recently announced that its MEPs will have to pay tax in Spain as well as in Belgium.
From the age of 63, MEPs are entitled to a retirement pension of up to 70 per cent of their salary.
Those who do not stay on for a subsequent term of office have the right to a 'redundancy pay' calculated at one month's salary for every year of service in Europe.
Who works the hardest
Approximately 70 per cent of laws passed or debated by MEPs affect the everyday life of a resident in a member State, such as Spain, and the European Parliament is the only institution on the continent where members are elected directly by the voting public.
Spanish politicians hold 54 out of the 751 seats in European Parliament and, over the last two terms of office, the 'big two' – the right-wing PP and the left-wing socialists, or PSOE have been the most prolific parties.
But this does not mean they work harder than the smaller, independent parties – sources from within European Parliament say, “like in any other workplace, there are all types: those who spend five years without asking a single question or providing any real input to debate, and those who have a real work ethic.”
This means smaller outfits are likely to be more active, since they cannot hide behind a larger crowd as is the case with larger and more mainstream parties whose members are able to go unnoticed if they choose to.
According to the association VoteWatch, Spanish MEPs work harder than the average, with greater numbers of reports produced and more frequent questions and opinions put forward, but are far less likely to vote in full meetings, or plenary sessions.
VoteWatch says: “As a general rule, MEPs from the 15 longest-running member States – of which Spain is one – are the most active and wield the greatest influence in legislating.”
The Spanish MEP who has prepared the most reports is socialist Inés Ayala, and her CDC counterpart Ramón Tremosa is the one who has asked the most questions or presented the most amendments, whilst ICV's Raúl Romeva – who is from Catalunya, like Tremosa – has been the most active in resolutions and motions during the last term of office.
VoteWatch's figures show female MEPs are more hardworking than male MEPs, even though they continue to be in the minority among those from Spain, of whom 39 per cent are women.
It also shows the PP as the least-active party in European Parliament, with the head of the party at EU level, Jaime Mayor Oreja, having asked the fewest questions out of all MEPs across the continent.
But this is not always a fair way to measure the level of dedication – socialist Antolín Sánchez Presedo, who does not figure among those with the highest numbers of reports drafted or questions asked, was the man who created the framework for the mortgage law reform which has become one of the most far-reaching directives approved during the last term of office.
And there are only 12 Parliamentary sessions per year – the rest of an MEP's work takes place elsewhere, either in meetings, commissions or on business trips.
