Transitional emoluments

Transitional emoluments for Members of the Bundestag are designed to smooth the way for Members to resume their previous careers or take up a new occupation when they leave Parliament. The transitional emoluments are thus another means of safeguarding the independence of Members of the Bundestag.

Those who take a seat in Parliament normally give up the practice of their trade or profession for an indefinite period. Membership of the Bundestag often coincides with a time in Member’s lives when they would otherwise be trying to advance their own professional careers. Members of Parliament give that up without knowing whether they will even be re-elected at the end of their first term. If they are defeated, their only option is to return to their former position. Should their company no longer exist, however, they are not entitled to full earnings-based unemployment benefit after they leave the Bundestag. Those who were previously self-employed or worked on a freelance basis often have to start from scratch again.

Transitional emoluments are paid at the rate of one monthly amount, corresponding to the current rate of Members’ remuneration, for every year’s membership of Parliament. This means that a Member losing his or her seat after one full electoral term would receive four monthly payments. The maximum duration of payments is 18 months. From the second month after the expiry of the mandate, all other earned income, including income from private sources, is set off against transitional emoluments.