section_path: Political positions/Secondary activities as a member of federal parliament
section_name: Secondary activities as a member of federal parliament
paragraph_text: Secondary activities as a member of federal parliament
  
  Merz has been known for his many secondary jobs over several legislative periods. As a member of the Bundestag (federal parliament of Germany), Merz had a total of 18 secondary jobs in the 14th legislative period (2002–2005) and at least 11 secondary jobs in the 15th legislative period (2005–2009). In 2006 alone, Merz was represented on the boards of eight different companies. In 2007, Manager Magazine wrote about Merz's secondary jobs:
  
  Merz probably earns a nice six-figure sum annually for his work in the law firm. For the year 2006, a conservative estimate shows that Merz's additional income, apart from his lawyer's salary, amounts to a quarter of a million euros.
  
  His many secondary activities raised concerns over whether Merz takes his mandate as a member of the Bundestag seriously and thoroughly. In 2007, Merz wrote a letter to his voters in an attempt to defend himself against criticism of his secondary activities.
  
  In 2021, before the federal election and 12 years after he left the Bundestag in 2009, Merz announced that he would no longer pursue any "professional activities outside of politics" if he were to be re-elected to the Bundestag.