The co-chairs of the Left Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag have strongly criticized the automatic salary increase for members of parliament scheduled for this summer. In a statement reported by “Der Spiegel” Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann stated that the government constantly claims in the media that public finances are tight. They argue that implementing drastic austerity measures, insisting that everyone must cut back and contribute, rings hollow when the ruling parties themselves plan to enjoy a substantial salary increase of about 500 euros per month.
The co-chairs described this move as brazen and something that will rightfully cause further frustration among the general public. According to their statement, it is incomprehensible that the coalition has failed to secure tangible relief for the majority of people, yet it plans to give itself a significant “pay raise”.
Pellmann and Reichinnek added that they intend to submit another motion this year to suspend the salary increase, calling it a necessary show of decency. They also noted that if their initiative fails, they are prepared, as they were last time, to donate the funds designated for the increase to social projects.
Overall, the Left Party fundamentally opposes the automatic nature of these salary adjustments. Since 2014, parliamentary pay has been linked to the current wage development through an automatic mechanism.