Within the SPD faction, resistance is mounting against the planned automatic increase of stipends for members of the Bundestag this year. According to Dirk Wiese, the SPD faction’s first parliamentary managing director, attributing his comments to the “Rheinischen Post”, he stated that parliamentarians do not determine their stipends themselves for sound reasons. Instead, the stipends are automatically adjusted according to salary developments and can also decrease.
Wiese explained that this procedure has proven effective. Nevertheless, he asserted that given the current economic climate and upcoming reforms, it would be appropriate to forgo an adjustment this year. This sentiment aligns with previous advocacy, including that of SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf, who recently argued for waiving the scheduled stipend increase.
Since 2014, the stipends for Bundestag members have been linked to the development of the nominal wage index, thus increasing automatically. Currently, a planned increase of 4.2 percent is slated to take effect on July 1st.