Greek Parliament denies decision to double committee attendance allowance to 150 euros

Plenary dispute over parliamentary compensation

On 1 October 2026, a sharp political debate broke out in the Hellenic Parliament after Plefsi Eleftherias president Zoi Konstantopoulou accused parliamentary leadership of preparing compensation increases for lawmakers. Speaking from the plenary podium, Konstantopoulou asserted that Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis had announced pay increases for committee attendance as well as higher housing allowances. She criticized lawmakers who log in remotely via Webex without actively participating in legislative work, arguing that public funds should not be used to increase allowances while Greek citizens struggle with high rents and living costs. Her speech prompted an immediate rebuttal from the presiding chair, which moved to clarify what was actually discussed.

What kind of example is this for society? Graft, trickery, to increase our own earnings, to increase the rent allowance for lawmakers at a time when ordinary people cannot pay their rent and everyone is absent.

Proposed doubling of committee attendance fees

Under the current rules of the Hellenic Parliament, lawmakers receive a flat compensation of 75 euros for attending each parliamentary committee session. Informal requests presented to parliamentary leadership proposed doubling this payment to 150 euros per meeting, specifically for deputies who attend in person. Supporters of the measure framed the higher rate as an incentive to counter low physical attendance and discourage passive remote connections via Webex. In parallel, lawmakers representing constituencies outside the Attica region requested an upward revision of their monthly rent allowance to address increasing housing expenses in the Greek capital. If approved, the 150-euro rate would restore committee attendance pay to the level that existed before austerity reductions were instituted during the economic bailout years.

Leadership response and opposition pushback

Presiding officer and Fourth Deputy Speaker Paris Koukoulopoulos directly rejected allegations that any official decision or announcement had occurred. Addressing the chamber from the podium, Koukoulopoulos explained that the matter arose strictly during a brief five-minute informal exchange following the conclusion of the Conference of Presidents. Several lawmakers, including parliamentary representatives from PASOK, the Communist Party of Greece, and other groups, were present during the discussion. Opposition parties including SYRIZA, KKE, and Plefsi Eleftherias firmly registered their opposition to any payment increases, with KKE lawmaker Giorgos Lambroulis expressing direct disagreement during parliamentary proceedings.

The President of the Parliament did not announce any increase for anything. Nor did he pre-announce one.

Procedural hurdles and timeline for potential changes

Sources from the parliamentary presidency confirmed that Nikitas Kaklamanis did not originate the proposal and has not endorsed any unilateral action. The Speaker informed the petitioning deputies that any adjustment would first require unanimous or broad agreement among the parliamentary political parties. Furthermore, implementing changes to committee compensation or housing allowances requires formal revisions to the Standing Orders of the Parliament, which must be debated and passed by an official vote in the plenary assembly. Parliamentary sources emphasized that if the political parties ultimately reach an agreement without public backlash, any resulting changes will not take effect before the start of 2027.