Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-04-05-Speech-2-385-000"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2011-04-05"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2012 - Section I - Parliament (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"pt"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20110405.19.2-385-000"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2011-04-05-Speech-2-386-0002
lpv:speaker	lp:Miguel Portas2
lpv:spokenAs	member_of_the_bureau; EUL/NGL (2009-07-14--2012-01-22)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (2009-09-16--2012-04-24)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with Iran (2009-09-16--2012-04-24)3 vice-chair; Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis (2009-10-15--2011-07-31)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries (2009-09-16--2012-04-24)3 substitute; ECON (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 member; Special committee on the policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 (2010-06-17--2011-06-30)3 unknown; Bloco de Esquerda (2009-07-14--2012-04-24)3 member; BUDG (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 member; Delegation for relations with Iraq (2009-09-16--2012-04-24)3
lpv:translated text	"We Members of the European Parliament have the power to make decisions regarding our own salaries. We also decide about money for employing people. Between 2010 and 2011 we awarded ourselves an additional EUR 3 000 each per month. It is also us who vote on the spending cap for our offices, assistance for expenses, allowances, and even how we travel. We have absolute power in these areas, and so I ask myself and I ask you: have we been using or have we been abusing this power of ours, have we been wise and thoughtful, or have we instead not been able to resist the hold that this power has over us? Unfortunately, we have not, and that is why this debate is not about figures, this debate is about ethics and politics, it is a debate that qualifies or disqualifies us in the eyes of those who call us to account. I am not to any extent an anti-party populist, nor do I believe that Members should have to work by candle light. However, it is precisely because this sort of demagoguery exists in our countries that we need to be extremely strict when talking about making decisions relating to money and the perks that we receive. I am sorry, but it is not normal for Members who always travelled in economy class to have changed to business class now that flights have started to be reimbursed by the ticket rather than by the kilometre. The same criterion applies to our salaries and expenses. In my opinion, they are excessive, and in some cases they are even extravagant, but that is not what is at issue here: what is at issue is knowing whether we have the courage to vote for these expenses to be frozen at least. I do not understand how there can be Members of Parliament here who do not hesitate to advocate austerity policies and the reduction of wages and pensions in their countries, but when it comes to making decisions about their own money, austerity goes out of the window. This is not just serious, my friends, this is indecent and very sad."@en1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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