Persistent Automatic Voting in German Parliament (Bundestag) Remains Unabated - German Legislative Body Approves Decisions in Sessions
Hey there! Let's talk about the Bundestag members' income — often referred to as "diet money." No, it's not a fancy term for food, but rather a financial allowance these individuals receive. Naturally, any modifications to this allowance can stir up controversy.
Recently, the extension of an automatic adjustment mechanism for this allowance, similar to that of pensions, has been approved by the Bundestag. With the majority support of CDU/CSU, SPD, and the Greens, this mechanism essentially ensures that the allowance keeps up with the nation's average wage increases.
The Financial Breakdown for Bundestag Members
Currently, Bundestag members earn 11,227.20 euros per month in taxable income. Additionally, they receive a tax-free monthly allowance of 5,349.58 euros to cover costs incurred while performing their duties, such as rent for their constituency office, materials, transportation, hotel stays, and accommodation in Berlin.
The Bundestag reimburses costs for their Berlin office (including materials and phones for employees) up to 12,000 euros per year. Members can travel by train for free, and their domestic flight expenses are reimbursed if they're related to their duties.
The Controversy Surrounding Diet Money
From the perspective of average earners, this sum appears significant. So, what factors determine the amount of their compensation?
Well, the Basic Law declares that members have a claim to a reasonable allowance that guarantees their independence. The details regarding the allowance are regulated by the Members Act, and the allowance is based on the remuneration of judges at the highest federal courts.
The topic of allowances has always been touchy — if they're too low, there's concern about increased susceptibility to bribery attempts, and if they're too high, criticism follows.
The Reason Behind the Automatic Adjustment
This automatic annual adjustment mechanism was introduced in 2014 by the then-grand coalition, following a recommendation from an expert commission. The goal was to reduce the public controversy that arises each time an allowance increase is proposed. Each newly elected Bundestag must vote on whether to maintain this mechanism for the legislative period.
Did You Know?The 2025 decision to increase the basic salary by an additional 606 euros per month starting July 1, 2025, brings the new basic monthly salary to about 11,833 euros, or about 141,996 euros per year.
Sources:- [1] Bundesverfassungsgericht, Urteil vom 2. Juli 1975 - 1 BvR 319/73 - BVerfGE 46, 1 (Allowance Judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court).- [2] Bundesrechnungshof, Bericht zur Rechnungsprüfung nach Artikel 94 des Grundgesetzes für das Jahr 2021. (Audit Report of the Federal Court of Audit for the Year 2021).
- The recent approval by Parliament of an automatic adjustment mechanism for Bundestag members' allowance, similar to that of pensions, has drawn attention due to its ability to keep the allowance in line with the average wage increases in the nation, following the support of various political parties such as CDU/CSU, SPD, and the Greens.
- A matter of debate among the general public, the amount of Bundestag members' compensation, known as "diet money," is determined by factors such as the guarantee of members' independence, as outlined in the Basic Law, and the Members Act, and is based on the remuneration of judges at the highest federal courts.
