Diet increase in the Bundestag: Stephan Brandner calls for transparent procedures and debate
Diet increase in the Bundestag: Stephan Brandner calls for transparent procedures and debate
As of July 1st, the diets of the members of the Bundestag will increase by around six percent. There will be no debate with a vote in the German Bundestag. Stephan Brandner, deputy federal spokesman for the alternative for Germany, rejects this non -transparent, almost secretly looking procedure.
"First of all, it would make sense that the height of the diet is based on the mandate, which would presumably lead to massive savings, you can take a closer look at the résets in particular. In addition, a debate has to take place before any increases, so that every citizen, as it should be common in a functioning democracy, is currently being informed about the arguments. Income does not have to justify and do not argue.
The increase in the diets of the Bundestag members ensures controversial discussions. While the politicians justify their income with the past that they have waived salary increases, many citizens criticize the lack of transparency and the lack of democratic debate.
The amount of the diets is currently based on the development of the net wages of the employees in the previous year. However, critics criticize that this method is not sufficient to adequately measure the income of the MPs. Stephanie Brandner, deputy federal spokesman for the alternative for Germany, therefore suggests that the diets should orientate themselves on the last income that lasted before the mandate. This would presumably lead to massive savings and the politicians are more likely to focus on the financial realities of the citizens.
In addition, Brandner demands that a debate about any increases in the diets must take place before their implementation. This is intended to publicly discuss the arguments for and against an increase and to inform the citizens about them. Currently, the MPs decide once every four years about their income without having to justify or argue what many find unjust.
Historically, there have been debates about the amount of the diets of the Bundestag members in the past. During the economic crises of the 1970s and 2000s, demands for reducing diets were loud. These debates led to the salaries of the MPs shortened or at least less increased.A comparison of the diets of the Bundestag members with the income of the average citizens illustrates the discrepancy between politics and the population. The following table shows the diets of the members of the Bundestag compared to the average gross year salary in Germany:
Table: Comparison of the diets of the Bundestag members with the average gross annual salary in Germany
| Year | Diets of the members of the Bundestag | Average gross annual content |
| —— | —————————— | --——————————— |
| 2021 | 10,083 euros | 40,227 euros |
| 2020 | 9,704 euros | 46,500 euros |
| 2019 | 9,541 euros | 46,560 euros |
| 2018 | 9,541 euros | 44,876 euros |
From the table it becomes clear that the diets of the Bundestag members have increased continuously in recent years, while the average gross annual salaries in Germany have remained relatively constant. This underlines the criticism of many citizens that the politicians are decoupled from real income development among the population.
The current debates about the diets of the Bundestag members illustrate the need for a transparent, democratic and just regulation of the MPs. A revision of the current system, which is more oriented towards the financial realities of the citizens, could strengthen trust in politics and lead to a fairer distribution of income.