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The upshot is that the Senate’s current expenses in 2008 soared to almost 13 million euros more than 2007, passing 570.5 million euros. A ridiculous amount, equivalent to 1.772 million euros per senator. A rise of 2.2%, considerably above programmed inflation of 1.7%. This is the fault of various items that are hard for ordinary citizens to understand. In six months, the Senate spent 19,080 euros to hire ornamental plants, 8,200 euros – in just three months – on “service hosiery”, 56,000 euros in six months on “service shirtings” and 16,200 euros on “supply of service garments for motorcyclists”.
But it is mainly the fault of the new life allowances for 57 senators who were not re-elected and the 7,251,000 euros paid out to senators who lost their seats. Such as Clemente Mastella. His “grant for reintegration into society” (making him sound rather like someone being released from prison) scandalised even Famiglia Cristiana magazine, which pleaded with him to give the 307,328 euros to charity. Not a chance. “The money is a legal entitlement of all former parliamentarians”. End of story.

Under the old rules, the “reintegration into society” of Armando Cossutta cost 345,600 euros, Alfredo Biondi’s cost 278,526 euros and Francesco D’Onofrio’s was worth 240,100 euros. Obviously, similar payments are made by the Chamber of Deputies. To take a name at random, Angelo Sanza found some consolation for having to say farewell to Montecitorio when his bank account received a fillip of 337,068 euros. Plus a monthly pension of 9,947 euros for ten legislatures, or half a century of parliamentary activity. On paper, that is. A succession of early elections meant that Mr Sanza had actually served only 36 years on the benches.

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(no not literaly cut them in half, although that would be a good too )