The train was first set in motion by MP Sven Clement from the Pirate Party, who put forward a proposal for the respective amendment. The Chamber commission in charge met the idea with great support, and even wants to take matters further.
The main change will be that all organisation or institution wanting to meet with an elected official will first have to register in a transparency system. Commission president Roy Reding (ADR) explained that MPs will have to provide an overview of such meetings every month.
MP Clement welcomes that his initial proposal from October 2019 was taken even further. Citizens are now able to better judge whether a politician defends an idea out of personal or common interest, he believes.
Naturally, it is still difficult to check if all meetings were really registered. The only exception to the rule are meetings with MEPs, unions, or private citizens, for instance.
The law will be up for vote next week.
