Members of the Left parliamentary group and the German Association of Taxpayers (Bund der Steuerzahler) have jointly called for the complete abolition of the automated mechanism used to increase the stipends of Bundestag deputies.
Heidi Reichinnek, the leader of the Left parliamentary group, stated to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that pausing the increase for the current year can only be an initial step. She argued that the automatic system fundamentally needs to be reviewed and abolished, noting that it was a flaw even when implemented in the first place. According to Reichinnek, it would be more appropriate to discuss lowering the stipends altogether.
The association’s president, Reiner Holznagel, echoed this sentiment, expressing that the automatic stumping of benefits causes disputes every year. Speaking to RND, he asserted that the automatic mechanism, which links deputies’ remuneration to the wage development of ordinary employees, must be abolished. He welcomed the reported halt to the planned increase because, along with each raise, were corresponding increases in pension claims. Holznagel severely criticized the ongoing privileges, stating that “the deputies still enjoy numerous privileges that are long out of date”.
Currently, a mechanism established since 2014 automatically adjusts the stipends of Bundestag deputies based on the overall wage development in Germany. Initially, these stipends were expected to rise by approximately 497 euros for the current year, bringing the total to around 12,330 euros. However, this planned raise is now reportedly halted following signals from other parliamentary factions, including the Union, who are refusing to support the increase due to the general economic and political climate, though a formal parliamentary resolution is still required.
Reichinnek criticized the late shift in stance, calling it “more than embarrassing” that massive public pressure was required for the Union to issue the first statements expressing discomfort about the nearly 500-euro stipend increase. She concluded by critically pointing out the apparent contradiction within the governing coalition: while they repeatedly call upon the public to work harder and exercise more restraint, they seem suddenly guilty when the deputies’ benefits automatically rise again, even if only six weeks before.