The Croatian Trade Union Association (HUS) has condemned in the strongest terms the decision of seven parliamentary deputies who "by retiring for one day" activated their right to a privileged MP pension, saying they have joined a growing number of those unfairly enjoying bigger rights than the general population.
HUS said in a statement on Tuesday that this decision showed what kind of people the said deputies were and their lack of feeling of belonging to the people they represented and their lack of advocacy of the common good and interests.
The fact that their decision is in accordance with the law, which is still in force, does not diminish their immoral behaviour, HUS said.
Croatian Deputy Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Monday confirmed having asked to be retired, but that he immediately froze his pension.
Asked if it was true that he asked to be retired, Seks said: "It is true. The Pension Insurance Agency determined the amount of my pension allowance, but I immediately froze my pension."
"I did this to avoid possible legal changes which could jeopardise my acquired rights as a parliamentary deputy... although I don't believe they would apply to me, as I have served too many terms," Seks said. He added that it was possible that new legislation could jeopardise his pension since in the past few years laws had been changed resulting in a ten percent cut in MPs' pensions.
Six other deputies, too, have asked to be retired and then froze their pensions.
