(Pensions; 10-03; p.6)
MPs do get pensions as well. According to the
relevant law in its February 2002 version, an MP has to stay in
parliament for at least eight years to get a pension – times as
MP in parliaments of the federal states are counted in as well.
The level of payments depends on their time
in parliament: each accounting for three per cent of the MPs salary
up to a limit of 23 years. An MP that has gained a pension thus
gets at least 24 per cent and at most 69 per cent of his salary;
since MPs currently do earn about 7000 Euro a month, the minimal
pension is about 1700 Euro.
The pension is paid from sixty-five onwards,
provided the MP got a pension’s right.
From the ninth to the eighteenth year in parliament, pensions
are paid one year in advance, respectively. So, an MP could "retire"
at earliest with forty-seven, then been eighteen years in parliament.
Unthinkable? – Perhaps not very likely, but never underestimate
the functionalities of the current system of recruiting politicians:
imagine a young party member, who achieves exactly this by clever
list-career managing. [Editorial correction: Two thoughts
had been combined here incorrectly: Firstly, the fact that MPs
reach their highest possible pension already after 18 years so
that it does not "pay off" for them to be in parliament
before the age of 47; secondly that there are MPs being just 29
when they entered parliament, therefore reaching their highest
possible pension with 47, but that this pension would be paid
not before they were 57.]
(Germany’s election system is twofold: one half of MPs is elected
directly, the other by places on a party’s list. According to
the party’s share in the votes, parliamentary seats are given
to the party of which one half is filled by MPs from the party’s
list.)
To put things in a fair perspective, it must
be stated that pensions of civil servants as well as of MPs and
ministers are subject to taxation as income.
It has to be said as well that the statistical average of pensions
is about 1000 Euro, which is about half the statistical average
income generated by work.
Moreover, politicians of all parties have conceded that there
is a need to find more adequate regulations for their pensions
– one may expect the presents, they work out for the tax payers,
eagerly.
(end of article)
