At least half of the Bundestag’s deputies received additional income in the current legislative period, according to Spiegel and the MPs Watch platform’s assessment of the information required for publication on Bundestag.de, Tagesschau said.
A total of 337 of the current 733 Bundestag members said they received at least one payment that was related to activities and functions outside the mandate or was based on company investments, donations or travelling expenses.
In the Union faction (CDU/CSU), 63 per cent of members reported additional income. In the FDP it was 59, in the SPD 43, in the BSV group 40, in the Left group 36, in the Greens 32 and in the AfD 22 per cent.
MPs currently receive monthly payments totalling €11,227.20. The base amount for the allowances is the remuneration of federal judges. In addition, a tax-free allowance of €5,051.54 applies to expenses related to the fulfilment of the mandate, such as office rent in the constituency, stationery and accommodation in Berlin.
The MP Act explicitly authorises side activities and income from them, provided that the mandate of the Bundestag is the main line of business and the side work is disclosed. As of this election term, MPs must report their side income to the president of the Bundestag down to the cent as soon as it exceeds €1,000 per month or €3,000 per year.
