Bundestag debates the compatibility of work and private life

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SPD MP Wiebke Esdar with a stroller during a vote in 2020

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Christoph Hardt / Future Image / IMAGO

The free mandate is in the Bundestag above the lowlands of the Parental Leave Act.

There is no possibility for MPs to take a baby break for children.

So far, so well known.

But even if MPs who are mothers or fathers of young children go to great lengths to get the political grind alongside parenthood, last week's agenda was nonetheless remarkable.

More precisely: agenda item 27, in the 73rd session of the 20th German Bundestag.

According to the plan, this should be called for at 11:30 p.m., a time that is not family-friendly – ​​and the debate was about an EU directive on the compatibility of work and private life for parents and caring relatives.

The fact that, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the debate only began at 11:32 p.m. should have made matters only slightly worse.

According to the newspaper, the Green MP Anton Hofreiter, who has repeatedly appeared in Parliament with a child in the past, spoke of a “certain satirical quality”.

MP Katrin Staffler, 41, on the other hand, didn't even make it to the meeting.

"This time ensures that those affected cannot participate," said the CSU politician, who has had a son since January 2022, of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".

Although the MP from Fürstenfeldbruck is politically concerned with the compatibility of private life and work, this appointment was not compatible with her private life.

All the same: By terminating the topic at night, the problem of the difficult compatibility of family and work has now attracted a certain amount of attention.

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