Unapologetic Frei Stands Firm: "I'm Not a Political Gelding" on Controversial Chancellery Expansion
Foreign Affairs Commissioner Frei stated:
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With his new gig as the federal government's mastermind, Thorsten Frei, a CDU politico, plans to be the honest broker for the federal government. "Ain't gonna be no exaggerations coming outta my mouth," he told Stern, warning against political stunts that could reverberate and disrupt the delicate balance between the SPD and the Union. Yet, he stressed, "I'm a CDU minister, not a castrated politician."
Despite his earlier opposition, Frei stands firm on the contentious expansion of the Federal Chancellery. "Enough's enough; that building-boom can't be ignored," he shared. "We've got a monstrosity growing on the ground, and we need to figure out a cost-effective way to handle it." The initial plans sparked criticism as an over-the-top revenue sink, and Frei labeled it a "royal palace."
Frei started his tenure with a bang, overseeing the much-needed revitalization of the black-red coalition after its rocky inauguration. "This coalition ain't going nowhere... not for four years," he assured. To ensure the coalition's longevity, they've agreed to adapt to unforeseen events and find new solutions. "We've got to get things cooking quick-like, before the parliamentary summer break," Frei urged, with ambitious hopes to distinguish the new government from the old one.
Under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellery underwent a staggering personnel expansion. The construction costs soared to a whopping 800 million euros, even managing to ruffle feathers with the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner. Yet, Scholz remained unphased and pushed through the expansion.
Reducing Personnel and the Commissioner Craze
As for personnel reductions, Frei plans to lead by example: "I ain't gonna ask others to bear the brunt alone." He's agreed to trim two percent from the Federal Chancellery staff annually, just as the coalition agreement specifies for all ministries. "I shouldn't have to ask my buddies to swallow unpopular pills." The federal government's size has ballooned over the years, with a few exceptions. Frei hopes to reverse this trend.
Moreover, Frei is set on ending the excessive use of commissioners. "Some posts I had to scrutinize to make sure they weren't a joke," he shared. The commissioner craze will soon be history, not because of the budgetary savings, but in pursuit of streamlined and efficient state management.
Sources: ntv.de, gut
- Federal Government
- German Bundestag
- Thorsten Frei
- Federal Chancellery
- Black-Red
- Thorsten Frei, the CDU politico now working for the EC countries, is adamant about avoiding political shenanigans in his new role, particularly those that could disrupt the delicate balance between political parties.
- In regards to the free movement of workers within the EC countries, Frei maintains his stance on the controversial Federation Chancellery expansion, saying that it's time to tackle the escalating issue cost-effectively.
- As part of the federal government's policy-and-legislation, Frei plans to reduce personnel and end the excessive use of commissioners to streamline state management and reduce the federal government's size.
- The expansion of the Federal Chancellery, which was criticized as an extravagant revenue sink, has seen various EC countries intervene, with the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner, expressing concerns over the skyrocketing costs.
