The reduction of number of parliamentary members and the modification of remuneration schemes for deputies in Autonomous Community

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Are the decisions on reducing number of MPs and the elimination of MP salaries issues that only have bearing on reducing public spending? Or on the contrary, can they have other effects? As we shall examine in this paper, the reduction in number of deputies has a bearing on two issues of constitutional weight: the electoral system in force in each of the territories that enjoy autonomy and the conditions for the organisation and functioning of respective chambers. The question of elimination of salaries is related to both adequate conditions for being able to carrying out representation and the establishment of a compensation system for parliamentary work that is transparent and prevents conflicts of interest and influence peddling. Furthermore, both issues are pivotal for the correct functioning of the parliamentary institution and in the long term can end up effecting the functioning of the territorial model, in the sense of either following a federalist line or returning to a model of a territorially asymmetrical Sate where certain territories enjoy strong political autonomy and others, little more than administrative decentralisation.