The Union has presented concrete proposals for a law to curb nepotism in members’ offices. “Relatives of MPs should no longer be employed in other members’ offices or paid from the staff allowance” said Hendrik Hoppenstedt, the Union’s parliamentary group manager, to POLITICO. He added that parliamentarians must also be prohibited from hiring anyone with whom they live, have a close relationship, or who stands in close support for each other.
Hoppenstedt cited the model of a Bavarian state‑parliament regulation, arguing that cross‑employment should be explicitly barred by law. He warned against “dumping the kid with the bath”: the Union wants modest amendments to the MPs’ law and is currently consulting with the SPD on the matter. “The unacceptable nepotism demonstrated by the AfD demands a decisive response”.
However, he stressed that tightening the MPs’ law cannot completely prevent abuse of the system. “In the end, what matters is whether a member of the Bundestag has the necessary decency”.
