SANTO DOMINGO. – Dominican Republic’s deputies (lower Chamber) began the week as the country’s heroes for their initiative to impeach the apparently self-incrimated judges of the Accounts Chamber, but just Thursday devolved into villains for giving themselves a wage hike of RD$58,491 (around US$2,000) or 55 percent of their current salary

Faced with criticism from various areas, the Deputies Commission for Dominicans Abroad today asked the other branches of Government to derided the so-called "European Migration Directive," approved recently by European lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin defended the benefits arguing that his colleagues have high expenses in their communities which cannot be met with their current wage of RD$113,000.

Valentin’s defense of the increase was further weakened today when National District deputy Librado Castillo revealed that a proposed 25 percent pay raise for the Chamber’s employees wasn’t approved.

Although the wage increase was rumored in the corridors of the Chamber of Deputies for months, it wasn’t until Thursday when Valentin confirmed it, arguing that it was in the budget and from the savings the lawmakers accomplished.

And yet another initiative considered a ruse to draw attention away from the wage-hike flap, another commission of deputies announced the impeachment of the National District Councilmembers who authorized the construction of skyscrapers in the exclusive residential sector Los Cacicazgos.