Berlin, December 23, 2025 – The 159 members of the Berlin House of Representatives are reportedly set to receive a significant increase in their parliamentary allowances, commonly known as diets, starting January 1st. According to media reports, each parliamentarian will see their monthly compensation rise by 477 euros.
Diet Increase Tied to Wage Development
The so-called parliamentary allowance will increase by 6.2 percent, reaching a total of 8161 euros per month. This information has been consistently reported by both “BZ” and “Tagesspiegel” newspapers, citing an internal circular from the parliamentary administration that they claim to have obtained.
While the press office of the House of Representatives has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the reports, the increase aligns with the provisions of the State Parliament Act. This law stipulates that the diets of parliamentarians are automatically adjusted annually on January 1st to reflect developments in earnings.
The benchmark for this adjustment is the nominal wage index, which is determined by the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office. Crucially, the law refers to the index for the previous year, which, according to a statement released by the Statistics Office in February, stood at 6.2 percent. This automatic mechanism ensures that the compensation for elected representatives keeps pace with broader economic trends.
Increased Allowances for Office and Staff
In addition to the diet increase, the media reports also indicate an uplift in the cost allowance for parliamentary offices. This allowance is set to increase from 3229 euros to 3304 euros, representing a 2.3 percent rise. This adjustment is reportedly in line with the inflation rate in Berlin, aiming to cover the rising operational costs associated with running a parliamentary office.
Furthermore, the allowance for employing up to four staff members will also see an increase. Reports suggest this will go up from 7325 euros to 8057 euros per month. This particular increase aims to support parliamentarians in their legislative and constituent work by providing adequate resources for their teams.
Context of the Adjustment
The automatic adjustment mechanism for parliamentary diets and allowances is designed to ensure transparency and prevent ad-hoc political decisions regarding compensation. By linking these figures to official economic indices, the system aims to maintain the independence and financial stability of elected officials while reflecting the economic realities of the region.
The news comes as Berlin continues to navigate various economic challenges and opportunities. The increased compensation for parliamentarians is a direct consequence of established legal frameworks and economic indicators, rather than a discretionary decision. The impact of these adjustments on the public discourse and the perception of political compensation will likely be a topic of discussion in the coming weeks.
The full details of these adjustments, once officially confirmed by the House of Representatives, will provide further clarity on the financial landscape for Berlin’s elected officials in the upcoming year.
Source: https://berliner-abendblatt.de/berlin-news/berichte-berliner-abgeordnete-bekommen-477-euro-mehr-diaet-id317843
