The Status of Assistants of Members of Parliament in the Countries of Europe

In Albania, the duties of assistants are performed by councilors of committees and secretaries of committees, with the option for MPs to have a personal secretary. The personal secretary's salary is provided by the local government. In Austria, the status of parliamentary assistants is regulated by the Parlamentsmitarbeitergesetz, which considers them employees. Assistants are paid from a separate appropriation earmarked for remuneration of MPs' assistants, with a maximum reimbursement of 2,468.5 € per month. There are no limitations on the number of assistants, but MPs must set their assistants' pay within the specified limit. A register of assistants is kept by the Parliamentary Administration, but it is not made public. In Belgium, the status of MP assistants is governed by internal regulations of parliamentary administration. Assistants do not have a civil servant status but are considered employees for social security purposes. They can be promoted after 8 and 15 years of service and have access to a register of assistants kept by the parliament. The number of paid assistants is limited to one full-time secretary and one halftime researcher, while MPs can also have unpaid assistants. In Bulgaria, each member of parliament has the right to one supernumerary assistant, who is given a permanent pass for access to the National Assembly buildings. The assistant's salary is paid from the National Assembly's budget, and the conditions for issuing permanent passes are regulated in the Rules of Internal Order of the National Assembly. A register of passes is kept, but it is not open to the public. In Croatia, the status of MP assistants is governed by internal regulations of parliamentary administration. Assistants' salaries are paid from the budget, and their pay is set by the Government Decree on salaries of civil servants. There are no formal limitations on the number of assistants, but they may not represent the MP in certain capacities. A register of MPs' assistants is kept by the Department of Human Resources, but it is not open to the public. In general, the status of MP assistants in European countries is subject to varying regulations and limitations. While some countries have formal requirements and restrictions, others have more flexible arrangements. The role of assistants can vary significantly, ranging from administrative support to more complex tasks such as representing the MP in certain capacities.