In a statement to Politico, SPD parliamentarian Sonja Eichwede called for stricter rules against nepotism in the Bundestag. She argues that relatives of MPs should not be employed in the offices of fellow party members. “I don’t think that’s acceptable” she said.
Eichwede explained that this issue is about trust in institutions and the careful use of taxpayers’ money. “Therefore, the quality of work and the competence of staff must be paramount” she added. She cited cases where a lack of “decency” seemed evident, especially in the AfD faction, and urged a legal tightening of the rules, as already exists in several state parliaments.
Specifically, Eichwede proposed expanding the current rule that MPs may not hire their own relatives to include the offices of colleagues from the same party. This would help ensure that hiring decisions are based on qualifications, not family ties.
She rejected a blanket equivalence of party friendship with nepotism. “With colleagues from the same party, competence and suitability can be assessed more easily because of shared collaboration” she explained. The key point, she emphasized, is that selections must be transparent and qualification‑based.
