In a recent development, the coalition government has defended the planned increase in parliamentary allowances for German federal lawmakers, amounting to €606. According to the SPD’s parliamentary business manager, Dirk Wiese, it is essential that lawmakers do not set their own salaries, as this would create an unfair system.
Wiese criticized the Left Party for consistently criticizing the establishment of a transparent mechanism, only to accept its adjustments. He deemed this approach as deceitful and hypocritical. In contrast, the CDU’s parliamentary business manager, Steffen Bilger, emphasized that the parliamentary allowance is adjusted in line with the national average salary increase in Germany, which can sometimes result in a decrease as well as an increase.
The coalition plans to push the dietic adjustment through the Bundestag on Thursday, which would see the allowance rise to €11,833. The system in place, according to Bilger, ensures that lawmakers are protected from the need to discuss and negotiate their salaries annually, maintaining a fair and transparent framework.