Polish deputies have passed a bill to cut pay for members of parliament by 20 percent following a row over hefty bonuses for government ministers.

Deputies from the parliamentary caucuses of the opposition Civic Platform, Nowoczesna and Polish People’s Party did not take part in the vote on Thursday evening.

The head of the ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jarosław Kaczyński, last month said he wanted to see parliamentarians take a pay cut, warning his fellow party members that those who did not back the plan would not stand for reelection.

He said he also wanted elected local government officials to take a 20 percent pay cut.

Polls indicated that support for Law and Justice fell after news emerged that former PiS Prime Minister Beata Szydło had awarded herself and other top politicians bonuses of about 50 percent of their annual salaries.

Prior to its election in late 2015, the Law and Justice party was vocally critical of its predecessors who gave themselves hefty bonuses.

Polish MPs are currently paid PLN 10,020 (EUR 2,355, USD 2,810) gross a month. They also get an extra allowance that totals a quarter of their salary.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP