Parliamentary Diets Get a Boost from July - Banking Almost 12,500 Euros a Month
German Parliament (Bundestag) authorizes raise in dietitian salary effective July, boosting earnings close to 12,000 euros. - German Parliament Boosts Monthly Stipend for July, Almost EUR 12,000 Paid to Recipients
Here's the lowdown on the latest news: as of July 1, 2021, parliamentary allowances have bumped up to €11,227.20 per month. This increment is a result of an annual increase mandated by law, but the Bundestag needed to confirm the adjustment mechanism for the current term.
Since 2016, diet adjustments have been tied to the general wage development for employees in Germany. The rationale behind this is the nominal wage index determined by the Federal Statistical Office. Given that nominal wages saw a 5.4% rise compared to 2023's figures, diets for Bundestag members will also witness a similar increase and stand at €11,833 monthly starting July.
The Left party has long protested against the increase and the automatic mechanism, with their leader, Ines Schwerdtner, stating to Web.de News that this approach is "ridiculous and disgraceful." She asserts that it's an insult to those "working for merely €12 an hour."
The AfD also opposes the automatic adjustment of diets. Stephan Brandner, the parliamentary business manager for the AfD faction, told Web.de that it's unjust for "people in regular employment to fight for their wage increases, while MPs simply receive theirs automatically."
** background info:**Increases in parliamentary diets are usually due to mechanisms that aim to adjust political salaries to inflation and general wage developments in the public sector, with the goal of preserving the financial attractiveness and independence of parliamentary mandates. Opposition parties and critics argue that the automatic adjustment mechanism lacks transparency and accountability, as politicians are not required to publicly justify or debate each raise, making salary adjustments seem disconnected from broader public sector wage restraint or economic realities.
These critiques fuel public discussions about the fairness and appropriateness of parliamentary compensation, especially during periods of economic uncertainty and public sector austerity debates in Germany. Stay tuned for further developments!
- The policy-and-legislation debates surrounding the annual increase of parliamentary allowances in EC countries, such as Germany, continue to spark general news discussions, with critics arguing the automatic adjustment mechanism lacks transparency and accountability.
- Political parties like The Left and AfD, particularly in Germany, have voiced their oppositions to the automatic adjustment of parliamentary diets, citing it as unjust and an insult to those working for lower wages, fueling ongoing discussions about the fairness and appropriateness of parliamentary compensation in times of economic uncertainty.
