The Belgian Court of Audit will conduct a review into the illegal pension bonuses that former parliamentary officials have received, Belga News Agency reports. The Federal Parliament's bureau also agreed to recoup the money lost from these bonuses.
After the parliamentary bureau concluded the illegality of these bonuses on Wednesday, they held a "chaotic" meeting according to Belga News Agency, after which they agreed on setting up an audit into parliamentary pensions.
In normal circumstances, such an internal audit would be held by a parliamentary committee. However, given the fact that these pensions have not been subject to external oversight in over 40 years, the bureau has chosen to hand over the responsibility to Belgium's Court of Audit.
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The bureau also agreed to reclaim whatever money "must and can be recovered" from the pension bonuses received by the former officials, as stated by the President of the Chamber of Representatives Eliane Tillieux.
In total, €1.294 million was handed out to former parliamentarians on top their monthly pensions of €7,813, the maximum amount for public servants.
