German Court Rules Against Former MP in Committee Allowance Dispute

Ex-MP Heribert Hirte loses legal bid for additional pay after assuming committee chair duties without formal appointment.

Former CDU MP Heribert Hirte sought a monthly allowance of €1,500 for chairing a Bundestag committee after the removal of its previous chair in 2019.
Hirte argued that his assumption of the chair's responsibilities justified the allowance, despite being formally designated as the deputy chair.
The Berlin Administrative Court ruled against Hirte, stating that allowances are reserved for formally elected committee chairs, not deputies, regardless of workload.
The court emphasized that linking allowances to tasks rather than official roles could create legal uncertainty and administrative challenges.
Hirte, who served as deputy chair of the Legal and Consumer Protection Committee from 2017 to 2021, may still appeal the decision.