Spanish former leaders decline bonuses

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http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/spanish-former-leaders-decline-leaving-bonuses

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

More than 60 senior figures from Spain's previous Socialist administration have declined their end-of-term payouts, officials said on Saturday, saving cash-strapped Spain nearly five million euros.

Out of 85 people who were entitled to the compensation, 64 declined payments, for savings of 4.76 million euros (S$7.32 million), the finance ministry said in a statement.

Ex-prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero started the practice and most of his former government followed suit. The payouts are for 80 per cent of a lawmaker's salary for up to two years.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Conservative government has since passed laws preventing outgoing high officials from collecting such payments.