THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THE ISSUE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO AREN"T FROM BUCHAREST:  We will eliminate rent. We will build a hotel

• Members of parliament will lose their special pensions and they won"t be getting any more money for cars or expensive furniture

• Attendence of sessions by deputies to be monitored through signatures on scanned lists

• Roberta Anastase: "I"m not looking for a position in the Supreme Council of National Defense"

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Liberal-Democrat Roberta Anastase, has announced yesterday, during a conference, her main goals proposed for her tenure as leader of the Lower Chamber of the Parliament.

Roberta Anastase has announced that she is looking, first and foremost, to have the new Parliament regain its credibility with voters. 60% of the current Parliament"s members, elected for the first time through the uninominal vote system, are first time members.

The head of the Chamber of Deputies announced that the Parliament"s regulation will bear several changes and at the same time, will be amended to include the Recommended Practices Guide that the European Parliament abides by.

Roberta Anastase stated that the Parliament will have to be more resolute in controlling the Executive and also, become a promoter of foreign diplomacy, not a provider of "state sponsored tourism", as it was until now.

The head of the Chamber of Deputies has suggested that hard times are coming for deputies used to living in luxury by spending taxpayer money: the budget of the Chamber of Deputies will be adjusted to accommodate the crisis conditions, and there will be no more "purchases of cars or furniture".

Moreover, Anastase mentioned that the fund for the bonuses and compensation of the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies has been reduced.

Mrs. Anastase also announced that Deputies and Senators will no longer have special pensions, as they will join the public pension system, and further stated that the process for the granting of transient compensation for former deputies and senators will be reconsidered, given the current crisis.

Roberta Anastase said that she is not after a position in the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), saying that the Parliament is already represented in the CSAT by the Chairman of the Senate, Mircea Geoană.

On the other hand, the Chairman of the lower chamber of the Parliament mentioned that the system for monitoring the attendance rate will be changed, opting for the introduction of a "scanned signature list", which will be put up for debate by the Permanent Office.

Anastase also discussed the issue of rent paid by Parliament members, saying she supports its full elimination.

The Liberal-Democrat added that a solution to this problem could be the construction of a hotel in the yard of the People"s House, with a feasibility study having already been made for this project, as well as for the Cathedral of the Redemption of the Romanian People.

Asked about the evolution of the "Benedek -Koto" case, Roberta Anastase mentioned that election in College 2 of Mureş could be held again if the Court of Appeal rejects the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania"s (UDMR) challenge of Koto Joszef"s appointment.

Roberta Anastase also said that on January 27-28th, will be held debates concerning the civil society and the amendment of the Constitution.