Decision pending

Zero pay round for politicians: what will Tyrol do?

The big zero in the form of a lamp hovers above the benches of the members of parliament. At the beginning of this year, the committee rejected cuts.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

The salaries of federal politicians will not be increased next year. However, the "zero pay model" at federal level will not automatically be continued at state level. Tyrol is certainly familiar with the discussion. 

Tyrol already had the same discussion last year: inflation compensation in full or only half? In February of this year, the state parliament confidently decided in favor of the former, stating that political work must also be worth something.

In 2024, MPs will be having the same discussion again - although increases are actually regulated by law. A decision in parliament is only necessary if the MPs want to remain below the guidelines of the Court of Audit.

Club leaders should decide
Salzburg and Vorarlberg have already announced that they do not want to follow the example of the federal government and increase salaries. In Tyrol, the matter has not yet been decided. But if the arguments put forward by the parties in the provincial parliament in February of this year are still valid, it is unlikely to be a big zero. The matter is to be decided at the level of the club leaders.

"Need a uniform regulation"
However, they have not yet discussed the matter. "We need a uniform regulation, the constant bickering between the federal states and the federal government is damaging everyone," says FP state chairman and club leader Markus Abwerzger.