Transparency: Despite earning over 10,000 euros per month, our representatives often have multiple jobs and are also well paid. 183 parliamentarians have 255 part-time jobs.
Next week will be the last plenary sessions for parliamentarians before the summer holidays. There are about 60 legislative proposals under consideration. And just in time for the holidays, there are current figures on the transparency of part-time jobs. Accordingly, the 183 members of the National Council have 255 paid part-time jobs. Remarkable considering the effort that the ladies and gentlemen would have made as politicians anyway.
This is where most of the top earners are located
A surprising number of MPs also work in local politics, as shown by parliamentary transparency data evaluated by the APA. Self-employed people and entrepreneurs are also represented in large numbers. Only then do activities with social partners, political parties and the government follow. According to the evaluation, most of the top earners are in the ranks of the ÖVP and FPÖ.
The deadline for the last transparency reports before the National Council elections expired on Sunday. 72 MPs find time for two or more paid positions on the side. Axel Kassegger of the FPÖ and Andreas Minnich of the ÖVP have the most with eight each. Both are entrepreneurs and run their own businesses. Kassegger is also chairman of the FPÖ educational institute, a municipal councilor of Minnich in Korneuburg and an official at the Chamber of Commerce.
Colorful field of part-time jobs
52 indicate a political mandate or a job at municipal level. 30 mandates have reported various activities as self-employed, 25 work in their own company, almost half of which, not surprisingly, come from the ÖVP. Then there are 22 paid civil servants or employees of the chambers and trade unions (mainly ÖVP and SPÖ) and 15 representatives with a farm. 14 representatives work directly for parties or party companies, 13 each work in the federal or state service and for other private companies.
Top earners mainly from ÖVP and FPÖ
Members of parliament currently receive 10,351.39 euros per month. Once a year, they must also declare how much money they earn in addition to their mandate. This time, too, the top earners are freelancers and party managers. These include lawyer and general secretary of the ÖVP Christian Stocker, as well as notaries Harald Stefan and Volker Reifenberger (both FPÖ
Dell manager Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS), ÖVP MP Kurt Egger (secretary general of the Economic Association) and Alexander Melchior also fall into the highest income category 5 above 12,000 euros gross per month. The only SPÖ MP in this category is construction and timber unionist Josef Muchitsch – a newcomer among the top earners.
Lowest income for the Greens
However, the majority of salaries in parliament fall into middle income category 3 (4,001 and 8,000 euros gross per month). There are 45 MPs here. Another 33 reported the lower category 2 (namely 1,151 to 4,000 euros), 27 MPs earned up to 1,150 euros extra (category 1) and 50 MPs reported no additional income at all over the previous year.
This also includes the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the club presidents, who receive higher salaries and are therefore subject to a professional ban. Ministers are also not allowed to have part-time jobs. 15 mandates fall into the second highest category 4.
The Greens report the lowest additional income. Of the 26 members of parliament, 16 reported additional income in the lowest two categories for 2023. So you earn a maximum of 4,000 euros gross per month. Another eleven members of parliament reported no additional income at all. Only the SPÖ has more full-time mandates (namely 16).
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
