As Italians feel the pinch of tough new austerity measures, their politicians are living like fat cats, said Barbie Latza Nadeau in TheDailyBeast.com. According to a new EU survey of lawmaker pay, Italian legislators make an average of $20,700 per month, including lavish perks and expenses. That’s $2,600 more than French lawmakers, the second highest paid, and three times more than Spanish ones, who earn $6,000 a month. Italian politicians enjoy free travel within Italy; a tax-free housing allowance; $5,000 per month for secretaries, even if they don’t have any; and subsidized gourmet dining.
Public disgust over the revelations was summed up this way on a popular Facebook page that airs parliamentary secrets: “Anna, 74-year-old retiree, $550 a month; Domenico Scilipoti, 54-year-old parliamentarian, $18,920 a month. This is Italy.”
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