Bundestag Ponders Automated Dieting Legislation
Gettin' Paid: Parliaments Members' Allowances in Germany
Berlin - German parliament members, or Bundestag members, are among the higher earners, thanks to a special allowance they receive, colloquially known as the "MP's allowance" or "diet." Proposals to raise this allowance often stir controversy.
A few years ago, an automatic adjustment mechanism, similar to the one used for pensions, was implemented, but this extension needs to be voted on after each federal election for the new legislative period. This issue has resurfaced in debate.
How Much Do Members Actually Make?
Currently, Bundestag members receive 11,227.20 euros per month, a taxable sum. Additionally, they get a tax-free monthly allowance of 5,349.58 euros for mandate-related expenses, such as office rent, materials, taxis, hotels, lodging in Berlin, or Berlin office expenses (up to 12,000 euros per year).
Members travel for free by train and have their domestic flight expenses reimbursed if related to their mandate.
Heavy on the Wallet for Average Earners - But How's It Decided?
The Basic Law declares, "Members shall receive a reasonable allowance to ensure their independence." Details are regulated in the Members of the German Bundestag Act. Allowances are based on the salaries of judges at the highest federal courts. The "allowance ruling" of the Federal Constitutional Court from 1975 states that the allowance should reflect the importance of the office, taking into account the responsibilities and burdens, as well as the office's rank in the constitutional order.
The MPs' Allowance Vote: A Political Tradition
The Constitutional Court explicitly requested members decide on this issue themselves and "in public." The court ruled, "In a parliamentary democracy, it cannot be avoided that the parliament decides on the amount and the further design of the financial regulations associated with the status of a member of parliament in its own affairs."
Annual Adjustments: A Response to Public Outcry
The mechanism was introduced in 2014 following the recommendations of an expert commission. Commission chairman and former Federal Minister of Justice Edzard Schmidt-Jortzig (FDP) aimed to eliminate the heated debates that arose during allowance increases by stating, "Politicians are labeled 'greedy' and of 'self-service'."
How Does the Mechanism Work?
It functions similarly to the pension system. If average wages in the country increase by a certain percentage in a given year, the allowances will increase accordingly the following year. Each newly elected Bundestag must approve this procedure for the legislative period. Currently, there is widespread support for its continuation.
Support and Criticism: A Political Divide
The SPD and Union support the mechanism, arguing it provides a fact-based approach to a political and sometimes emotional topic. Criticism comes from the AfD and the Left, who call for its suspension, with Left faction leader Heidi Reichinnek announcing that she will be making a donation of her increased allowance.
- The MP's allowance, based on the salaries of judges at the highest federal courts, is a controversial issue that triggers heated debates, especially when proposals to raise it are brought forward.
- The current system for determining Bundestag members' allowances is rooted in the Basic Law and the Members of the German Bundestag Act, with allowances adjusted annually through a mechanism similar to pension adjustments, in response to public outcry and aimed at eliminating heated debates over increases.
