Deciding the compensation for Saxon and Thuringian legislators for the next five years
- Compensation for Hocke and Company: The Income of the Landtag Member
The Saxony and Thuringia parliaments' members bear significant responsibility for their respective countries, with over 200 representatives having a substantial role. Their remuneration reflects this significant responsibility, as stipulated by the federal states' parliamentary laws.
The monthly remuneration in Saxony is set at an impressive 6954.09 euros. This figure is derived from a judge's salary within the Free State, as detailed by the parliamentary administration. Leaders of political factions and the parliament president or president receive double this amount. The allowance serves to ensure a comfortable and appropriate standard of living for the position, thereby guaranteeing that the opportunity for public representation is accessible to all citizens, regardless of professional income or personal wealth. Subsequently, the income is taxed.
In addition, members receive a monthly allowance covering expenses associated with travel within the constituency, office maintenance, or secondary accommodation located at the parliamentary seat in Dresden. This amount ranges from 3940.65 to 5152.41 euros, contingent on the distance between the residence and the state capital. Reductions occur if parliamentary members fail to attend sessions. Moreover, members are reimbursed for employing staff, up to a maximum limit of 8356.58 euros per month. Lastly, members can utilize the state's trains without charge. Secondary activities are permitted, but under specific conditions.
Members of the Thuringian parliament receive a slightly more generous allowance than their Saxon counterparts, totaling 7013.04 euros. The flat-rate allowance also varies depending on the distance of the residence from the state capital, ranging from 2402.51 euros to 3353.53 euros. Furthermore, members can receive remuneration for staff expenses – up to roughly 4600 euros per individual. In Thuringia, members can utilize the state's trains without charge and engage in secondary activities.
Additional rules pertain to transition payments and retirement provisions in both states. Dietary allowances are somewhat comparable in Saxony and Thuringia, generally aligned with other federal states. Standout low are the allowances in Hamburg, where members receive around 4000 euros; the Bremen parliament is also categorized as a "part-time parliament," with many members still maintaining full-time employment.
Members of the German Bundestag receive a more substantial remuneration of 11,227.20 euros per month, inclusive of office equipment provision and a flat-rate allowance. In the European Parliament, the monthly gross remuneration is set at 10,377.43 euros.
However, the challenges associated with parliamentary work seem consistent across all platforms: lengthy working hours, strenuous debates, and even verbal abuse or threats.
The top news in Saxony might revolve around the significant increase in the monthly remuneration for parliament members, which now stands at 6954.09 euros. In contrast, Thuringia's top news could be about their parliament members receiving a slightly more generous allowance, totaling 7013.04 euros.
