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Absent German Lawmakers to Lose €200 From Allowance
German lawmakers who miss parliamentary sessions or roll-call votes without valid excuses will soon face higher financial penalties, following proposed changes supported by the coalition parties.
According to the amendment to the Members of Parliament Act, any lawmaker who fails to register their attendance when the Bundestag is in session will now face a €200 deduction from their allowance, an increase from the current €100.
The penalty would further rise to €300 if the absence is unexcused. Additionally, skipping a roll-call vote will result in a €200 deduction, also up from €100.
The draft law, introduced by parliamentary groups from the conservative bloc and the Social Democrats, aims to strengthen accountability and maintain high attendance in parliament.
Lawmakers emphasized that penalties have not been updated since 2014, despite inflation and adjustments to the flat-rate allowance.
