Parliament with 101 MPs! What could be the impact? Analysis of the economic and institutional impact of the decision announced by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed at the Socialist Party National Assembly on September 11 to reduce the number of MPs in the Assembly to at least 101, from the current 140. The idea was presented as part of an internal process to review the functioning of parliamentary life. Among other things, in his speech he also focused on reducing the number of MPs moving from one committee to another in order to maintain the continuity of work.
In addition to the administrative and political effect, "Scan Intel" has conducted a detailed analysis based on MPs' salaries and other benefits to understand how much of a difference this number can have in the economic, i.e. budgetary, aspect.
According to 2024 data, the average monthly expenses for MPs' benefits amount to about 20 million lek. Of this amount, about 1.2 million lek are intended for participation in committees. Meanwhile, the total average monthly expenses for 140 MPs per month amount to about 30 million lek. These are the bases on which the potential savings can be calculated in the event that the number of MPs is reduced by 39.
So, from an average of 50 million lek per month in expenses for salaries or other benefits such as telephone, rent, commissions or travel allowances; by reducing the number, about 14 million lek per month can be saved. Expressed in euros, this figure is estimated at 144 thousand euros per month.
The figures show that the savings are visible at the Assembly level but do not constitute a large difference for the total state budget. However, the decision to reduce the number of deputies should not be seen only as an economic issue. The reduction of representatives may have consequences for regional and small party representation, while each deputy remains a greater workload. On the other hand, if the new rule for committees is implemented, it could strengthen the continuity of work and also reduce costs.
In conclusion, reducing the number of deputies from 140 to 101 would save the Albanian state about 168 million lek per year or 1.7 million euros, not including other costs such as staff or infrastructure. For committees, the savings are more modest. Beyond the figures, this initiative remains more a question of balance between administrative efficiency and the need for democratic representation than a measure with a strong financial impact.
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