Absent from Meeting: Giffey Facing Criticism, Budget Cuts
Franziska Giffey, Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs, failed to attend a compulsory committee meeting last month. This oversight led the main committee to decide that the economic administration needed to save 75,000 euros from its budget. The Committee's decision came after a subcommittee meeting on October 9. Giffey later acknowledged the error, expressing regret and taking responsibility.
Giffey Emphasizes "Parliament First"
Giffey, a member of the SPD, explained that procedures in the economic administration had been revised to prevent such errors from happening again. She emphasized her commitment to the "Parliament First" principle, which prioritizes parliamentary rights to information. A report in the "Tagesspiegel" newsletter "Checkpoint" had previously highlighted this issue.
Green Party MP Tuba Bozkurt had sent a written question to the Senate regarding the absence. The economic administration explained the absence was due to an "unfortunate internal error caused by an unusually high level of illness."
Greens Criticize Giffey as "Instagram Queen"
Bozkurt stated that while everyone understands high sickness rates and excessive demands, Giffey was not actually ill during the meeting. She posted a photo of her visit to the Berlin city cleaning service on Instagram, which some viewed as neglecting her duties as a senator in favor of being an "Instagram Queen."
No Fine, But a Shortfall in Expenditure
The House of Representatives council stated that while there would be no fine for the absence, a so-called shortfall in expenditure of 75,000 euros would be imposed on the economic administration. According to the administration, this amount will be covered from the budget item "Remuneration of regular civil servants," as the funds allocated for this purpose have not been fully utilized due to vacant positions.
Berlin Senate Budget Cuts Context
Amidst these developments, Berlin Senate is planning to cut 250 million euros from the city's tertiary education, research, and science budget in 2025. Universities like Freie Universität Berlin will have to deal with a budget deficit of approximately 41 million euros, reacting primarily with reserve funds and adopt short-term measures for 2025. The Berlin State Opera will cut a production from its 2025-26 season to save around 5 million euros, while still focusing on attracting top performers.
In this context, Giffey's absence from the mandatory committee meeting and subsequent budget cuts may seem minor compared to the broader challenges facing Berlin's tertiary education and cultural sectors. However, her acknowledgment of the error and commitment to prioritizing parliamentary rights has been noted.
