In 2026, the Bundestag, due to the difficult economic situation in Germany, refused the legally mandated salary increase for all 630 deputies. The bill, developed by the CDU, CSU, and SPD, was unanimously approved. Starting from July 1, the salaries of all 630 deputies were supposed to be raised by approximately 500 euros per month to 12,330 euros. However, the parliamentarians decided that it was time to set an example by tightening their belts. "In a tense budgetary and economic situation, structural reforms are necessary, which will inevitably lead to an additional burden on citizens," stated the ruling factions. According to the deputies, they should "contribute to savings." The increase in deputies' salaries, according to the law from 2014, is linked to the rise in nominal incomes of German citizens. Therefore, during the pandemic in 2021, deputies' salaries decreased, following the income of Germans. In 2020, deputies themselves refused to raise their salaries due to the pandemic. Last year, payments to parliamentarians were increased by approximately 600 euros per month, reports Deutsche Welle.