The lower house of parliament will spend more than 27 million somoni in 2024

The budget of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan (the lower house of parliament) has once again increased in 2024, reaching 27,4 million somoni, or about 2.5 million dollars.

This was reported by the Asia-Plus agency, citing the head of the Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of Instructions and Organizing the Work of the Lower House of Parliament of Tajikistan, Jamshid Murtazozoda.

According to Murtazozoda, 27 million 401 thousand 380 somoni has been allocated for the activities of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli (the lower house of parliament) of Tajikistan in 2024.

This is 212 thousand 540 somoni more than last year.

Earlier, on December 22, 2023, representatives of the lower house of parliament approved the “single budget of revenues and expenditures” for 2024, but the exact budget amount was not disclosed.

At the same time, Jamshid Murtazozoda reported that the expenses for the activities of 343 deputies and parliamentary staff amount to 27.4 million somoni.

In 2023, 27 million 188 thousand 840 somoni was allocated for the activities of the lower house of parliament. This amount was also intended for the expenses of 343 people. This amount exceeds the parliament’s budget for 2022 by 6 million somoni.

This year, 5 million somoni has also been allocated for the activities of the Majlisi Milli (the upper house of parliament), which is headed by Rustam Emomali, the eldest son of the president and the mayor of Dushanbe.

Although the overall budget of the parliament is known, how much deputies earn is not disclosed. In addition to their salaries, deputies are provided with housing, official cars, and free medical care in hospitals.

Citizens complain that despite the large number of benefits and preferences funded by taxpayers, deputies mostly pass anti-people laws and approve documents that contradict national interests.

Experts believe that the Tajik parliament exists only for formality, and “people’s representatives” easily approve any document or bill proposed by the government. In other words, the government treats this highest legislative body as a typewriter. That is, whatever the authorities propose, the “people’s representatives” approve and print everything without any changes or additions.

It should be noted that according to the Constitution, parliament deputies have broad powers, ranging from legislative initiatives to declaring a vote of no confidence in the president and government and terminating their activities. However, experts believe that in practice, deputies of the Tajik parliament are afraid even to send a simple request to any committee or service under the government.

Dear readers of the Azda.tv website, to learn more about how the so-called people’s representatives work, watch our video at the link.