The chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, Liberal Virgil Guran, said Wednesday that “we have to learn to be rich and honest,” explaining why senators approved the pay hike for senior officials. Guran’s statement came after the Senate amended a government decree and introduced an increase in allowances for civil servants.

“In the 90s, I heard Ion Iliescu say to be poor and honest. I think we need to start learning to be rich and honest and the country will be better off. I do not benefit from a salary increase because God helped me and I have had my company for 32 years and I live there, not because of what happens in parliament. I believe that we should put an end to the idea of ​​not raising the salaries of mayors. I think we need to raise productivity requirements, and that’s very important,” the chairman of the Senate Labor Committee explained at the end of the plenary session.

The Senate approved on Wednesday an increase in the allowances of high-ranking officials and a 25% increase in allowances for public employees participating in the legislative process. These are the allowances of the president, ministries, parliamentarians, mayors, heads of district and local councils, as well as civil servants who serve them.