More transparency on MPs' extra income
Members of the German Bundestag could soon have to state exactly how much they earn on the side. Both parties in the ruling coalition agreed on a new transparency model on Thursday.
Currently, parliamentarians must only specify the general income category their second job earns them per month. The first level is €1,000 to €3,500, the second level up to €7,000, and the third “more than €7,000” with no further differentiation between €7,001 and €100,000.
Bundestag Vice President Hermann Otto Solms said after the meeting that the first three levels would remain the same, but seven more would be added on top of the previous €7,000 bracket.
They would be from €7,000 to €15,000 to €30,000. Stages of €50,000, €75,000, €100,000, €150,000, €250,000 and then over €250,000 would also follow.
Politicians would not be obliged to publish their exact earnings on their websites, Solms added.
Opposition parties the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens welcomed the new model, but said it didn't go far enough. They are pushing for full disclosure of all earnings.
Extra income has been a recurrent topic in German parliament for years. Discussions were reignited in recent weeks, after the SPD's chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück refused to disclose how much he earned on the side from his speaking engagements.
DPA/DAPD/The Local/jcw
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Currently, parliamentarians must only specify the general income category their second job earns them per month. The first level is €1,000 to €3,500, the second level up to €7,000, and the third “more than €7,000” with no further differentiation between €7,001 and €100,000.
Bundestag Vice President Hermann Otto Solms said after the meeting that the first three levels would remain the same, but seven more would be added on top of the previous €7,000 bracket.
They would be from €7,000 to €15,000 to €30,000. Stages of €50,000, €75,000, €100,000, €150,000, €250,000 and then over €250,000 would also follow.
Politicians would not be obliged to publish their exact earnings on their websites, Solms added.
Opposition parties the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens welcomed the new model, but said it didn't go far enough. They are pushing for full disclosure of all earnings.
Extra income has been a recurrent topic in German parliament for years. Discussions were reignited in recent weeks, after the SPD's chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück refused to disclose how much he earned on the side from his speaking engagements.
DPA/DAPD/The Local/jcw
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