German MPs face backlash over proposed 4.2% pay rise rejection
The conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group has responded cautiously to the SPD's proposal to forgo a pay raise for lawmakers in the Bundestag this year.
"The level of parliamentary compensation is no longer determined by political decisions but follows a clearly regulated automatic process," Steffen Bilger, the CDU/CSU's first parliamentary manager, told Süddeutsche Zeitung (Friday edition). He argued that the current mechanism ensures transparency and accountability.
Bilger noted that the idea of suspending this mechanism had already come from within the CDU/CSU faction, referring to a recent initiative by CDU lawmaker Wilhelm Gebhard. Nearly two weeks ago, Gebhard had called for politicians to send a "signal" by waiving the planned pay increase, citing rising fuel prices and the financial strain on citizens. Bilger now stated that the faction would "discuss the matter in its internal bodies."
Sources within the CDU/CSU indicated they would have preferred to address the issue quietly with the SPD before presenting a joint proposal. However, they acknowledged the public demand for a clear gesture. Alternatives to forgoing the pay raise could have included requiring lawmakers to contribute to the pension system or reducing their allowances.
Under the current system, parliamentary salaries are set to rise by 4.2 percent this year, from €11,833.47 to €12,330.48 per month.
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